ng
around, as if they had suspected his purpose, and were on the alert to
prevent him from carrying it into execution. It seemed too, as if each
particular board in the floor creaked in protest at what he was doing,
and to give the alarm.

The note which was to inform his parents of where he had gone, was
placed conspicuously on the chair by the bed, where his mother could not
fail to see it when she came to awaken him, and when that was done his
journey seemed more like some demand of business, and less like
disobedience to what he knew his parents' commands would be.

He did finally succeed in dressing himself, although his jacket was
buttoned in a very curious fashion; and then, with his shoes and mittens
in his hands, he started down stairs. If the boards of the floor had
tried to arouse his parents, the stairs appeared bent on awakening the
entire household--although he did his best to put as little weight as
possible upon them, they creaked and screamed in a most alarming
fashion.

It seemed strange to him that his parents could sleep while so much
noise was being made; but when he finally succeeded in closing the
outside door behind him, there had been no sign made to show that his
departure was known.

Dan was so nervous and excited that he hardly felt the frost when he
stepped with stockinged feet upon the snow; but instinct prompted him
to put on his boots and mittens, and it only remained to get Crippy and
start.

He almost expected that the goose would be waiting for him at the stable
door when he opened it; but, since he knew he should find his pet in the
warm box he had made for him, he was not greatly disappointed at not
seeing him ready for the journey. Besides, he had come an hour before he
told Crippy he would be there, which was sufficient reason why the goose
was not ready and anxious to start.

After groping his way around the barn to the corner in which was
Crippy's sleeping apartment, Dan was considerably surprised because the
goose was so very careless, both in regard to his safety, and the
possibility of arousing the household. He cackled and hissed when Dan
took him from the box, as if he preferred to be killed and served up for
the Thanksgiving dinner rather than go out of doors so early on a cold
morning.

Dan whispered that he knew it was hard to be obliged to start so early,
but that they must do so, and the more he explained matters the harder
the goose struggled, until it seemed