sh we had some crullers, or something," said Nan, who was growing
hungry. They had each had a cruller on leaving home, but had eaten them
up before embarking on the ice-boat voyage.

"Please don't speak of them, Nan. You make me feel awfully hollow," came
from her twin brother. And the way he said this was so comical it made
her laugh in spite of her trouble.

The laugh put them both in better spirits, and leaving the _Ice Bird_
where she lay, they set off through the snow in the direction of the
road which ran from Lakeport to the village of Hopedale, six miles away.

"It will take us over an hour to get home," said Nan.

"Yes, and I suppose we'll catch it for being late," grumbled Bert.
"Perhaps we won't get any supper."

"Oh, I know mamma won't scold us after she finds out why we were late,
Bert."

They had to cross a pasture and climb a fence before the road was
reached. Here was an old cow-shed and they stood in the shelter of this
for a moment, out of the way of the wind and driving snow.

"Hark!" cried Bert as they were on the point of continuing their
journey.

"It's a dog!" answered Nan. "Oh, Bert, he is coming this way. Perhaps he
is savage!"

They listened and could hear the dog plainly. He was barking furiously
and coming toward them as fast as he could travel. Soon they made out
his black form looming into view through the falling snow.

CHAPTER XII

TIGE--PLAYING THEATER

Nan dearly loved the dogs with which she was well acquainted, but she
was in great terror of strange animals, especially if they barked loudly
and showed a disposition to bite.

"Bert! Bert! what shall we do?" she gasped as she clung to her twin
brother's arm.

Bert hardly knew what to say, for he himself did not like a biting dog.
He looked around for a stick or a stone, and espied the doorway to the
cow-shed. It was open.

"Let us get into the shed," he said quickly. "Perhaps we can close the
door and keep the dog out."

Into the shed sprang Nan and her twin brother after her. The dog was
almost upon them when Bert banged the door in his face. At once the
animal stopped short and began to bark more furiously than ever.

"Do you--you think he can get in at the window?" faltered Nan. She was
so scared she could scarcely speak.

"I don't know, I'm sure. If you'll stand by the door, Nan, I'll try to
guard the window."

Nan threw her form against the door and held it as hard as if a giant
were outside trying