to force it in. Bert felt around the empty shed and
picked up the handle of a broken spade. With this in hand he stalked
over to the one little window which was opposite the door.

"Are there any cows here?" asked Nan. It was so dark she could see next
to nothing.

"No cows here, I guess," answered Bert. "This building is 'most ready to
tumble down."

The dog outside was barking still. Once in a while he would stop to
catch his breath and then he would continue as loudly as ever. He
scratched at the door with his paw, which made Nan shiver from head to
feet.

"He is trying to work his way in," she cried.

"If he does that, I'll hit him with this," answered her twin brother,
and brandished the spade handle over his head. He watched the window
closely and wondered what they had best do if the dog leaped straight
through and attacked them in the dark.

The barking continued for over quarter of an hour. To Nan and Bert it
seemed hours and hours. Then came a call from a distance.

"Hi, Tige, what's the matter? Have you spotted a tramp in the shed?"

"Help! help!" called out Bert. "Call off your dog!"

"A tramp, sure enough," said the man who was coming toward the cow-shed.

"I am not a tramp," answered Bert. "And my sister isn't a tramp,
either."

"What's that? You've got your sister with you? Open the door."

"Please, we are afraid of the dog," came from Nan. "He came after us and
we ran into the shed for shelter."

"Oh, that's it?" The farmer gave a short laugh. "Well, you needn't be
skeert! Tige won't hurt ye none."

"Are you sure of that?" put in Bert. "He seems to be very savage."

"I won't let him touch ye."

Thus assured Nan opened the door and followed Bert outside. At a word
from the farmer Tige stopped barking and began to wag his tail.

"That dog wouldn't hurt nobody, 'ceptin' he was attacked, or if a person
tried to git in my house," said Farmer Sandborn. "He's a very nice
fellow, he is, and likes boys and gals fust-rate; don't ye, Tige?" And
the dog wagged his tail harder than ever, as if he understood every
word.

"I--I was so scared," said Nan.

"May I ask what you be a-doin' on the road all alone and in this
snowstorm?"

"We are going home," answered Bert, and then explained how they had been
ice-boating and what had happened on the lake.

"I do declare!" cried Farmer Sandborn. "So the boat up an' run away with
ye, did she? Contrary critter, eh!" And he began to laugh. "Who be you?