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less than that；〃 and turned to the clergyman。 〃You are quite
right； some of the higher passes are very cold。 I was lost in one
of them in '56 with a small party。 We were seventy miles from any
settlement； we had had nothing to eat for thirty…six hours； our
campfire； melting the snow； sank twelve feet below the surface。〃
The circle closed eagerly around him； Marie； Kitty； and Cousin Jane
pressing forward with excited faces； even the clergyman assumed an
expression of profound interest。 〃A man by the name of Thompson； I
think；〃 continued Uncle Sylvester； thoughtfully gazing at the fire；
〃was frozen a few yards away。 Towards morning； having been fifty…
eight hours without food； our last drop of whiskey exhausted； and
the fire extinguished； we found〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 said half a dozen voices。
〃We found；〃 continued Uncle Sylvester； rubbing his hands cheerfully；
〃we found itexceedingly cold。 YesEXCEEDINGLY cold！〃
There was a dead silence。
〃But you escaped！〃 said Kitty breathlessly。
〃I think so。 I think we all escapedthat is； except Thompson； if
his name WAS Thompson； it might have been Parker；〃 continued Uncle
Sylvester； gazing with a certain languid astonishment on the eager
faces around him。
〃But HOW did you escape？〃
〃Oh； somehow！ I don't remember exactly。 I don't think；〃 he went
on reflectively； 〃that we had to eat Thompsonif it was HIMat
least not then。 No〃with a faint effort of recollection〃that
would have been another affair。 Yes；〃 assuringly to the eager；
frightened eyes of Cousin Jane； 〃you are quite right； that was
something altogether different。 Dear me； one quite mixes up these
things。 Eh？〃
A servant had entered； and after a hurried colloquy with Gabriel；
the latter turned to Uncle Sylvester
〃Excuse me； but I think there must be some mistake！ We brought up
your luggage with youtwo trunksin the station wagon。 A man has
just arrived with three more； which he says are yours。〃
〃There should be five in all； I think；〃 said Uncle Sylvester
thoughtfully。
〃Maybe there are； sir； I didn't count exactly；〃 said the servant。
〃All right；〃 said Uncle Sylvester cheerfully； turning to his
brother。 〃You can put them in my room or on the landing； except
two marked 'L' in a triangle。 They contain some things I picked up
for you and the girls。 We'll look them over in the morning。 And；
if you don't mind； I'll excuse myself now and go to bed。〃
〃But it's only half past ten；〃 said Gabriel remonstratingly。 〃You
don't； surely； go to bed at half past ten？〃
〃I do when I travel。 Travel is SO exhausting。 Good…night！ Don't
let anybody disturb themselves to come with me。〃
He bowed languidly to the company； and disappeared with a yawn
gracefully disguised into a parting smile。
〃Well！〃 said Cousin Jane； drawing a long breath。
〃I don't believe it's your Uncle Sylvester at all！〃 said Marie
vivaciously。 〃It's some trick that Gabriel is playing upon us。
And he's not even a good actorhe forgets his part。〃
〃And； then； five trunks for one single man！ Heavens！ what can he
have in them〃 said Cousin Emma。
〃Perhaps his confederates； to spring out upon us at night； after
everybody's asleep。〃
〃Are you sure you remembered him； papa？〃 said Kitty sotto voce。
〃Certainly。 And； my dear child； he knows all the family history as
well as you do； and〃continued her father with a slight laugh that
did not； however； conceal a certain seriousness that was new to
him〃I only wish I understood as much about the property as he
does。 By the way； Amos；〃 he broke off suddenly； turning to the
young man； 〃he seemed to know your people。〃
〃Most men in the financial world do；〃 said Gunn a little
superciliously。
〃Yes； but he asked me if you hadn't a relative of some kind in
Southern California or Mexico。〃
A slight flushso slight that only the keen； vivaciously observant
eyes of Marie noticed itpassed over the young man's face。
〃I believe it is a known fact that our branch of the family never
emigrated from their native town；〃 he said emphatically。 〃The
Gunns were rather peculiar and particular in that respect。〃
〃Then there were no offshoots from the old STOCK；〃 said Gabriel。
Nevertheless； this pet joke of Gabriel's did not dissipate the
constraint and disappointment left upon the company by Uncle
Sylvester's unsatisfying performance and early withdrawal； and they
separated soon after； Kitty and Marie being glad to escape upstairs
together。 On the landing they met two of the Irish housemaids in a
state of agitated exhaustion。 It appeared that the 〃sthrange
gintleman〃 had requested that his bed be remade from bedclothes
and bedding ALWAYS CARRIED WITH HIM IN HIS TRUNKS！ From their
apologetic tone it was evident that he had liberally rewarded them。
〃Shure； Miss；〃 protested Norah； in deprecation of Kitty's flashing
eye； 〃there's thim that's lived among shnakes and poysin riptiles
and faverous disayses that's particklar av the beds and sheets they
lie on。 Hisht！ Howly Mother！ it's something else he's wanting
now！〃
The door of Uncle Sylvester's room had slowly opened； and a blue
pyjama'd sleeve appeared； carefully depositing the sheaf of bows
and arrows outside the door。 〃I say； Norah； or Bridget there； some
of you take those infernal things away。 And look out； will you；
for the arrowheads are deadly poison。 The fool who got 'em didn't
know they were African； and not Indian at all！ And hold on！〃 The
hand vanished； and presently reappeared holding two rifles。 〃And
take these away； too！ They're loaded； capped； and NOT on the half…
cock！ A jar； a fall； the slightest shock is enough to send them
off！〃
〃I'm dreadfully sorry that you should find it so uncomfortable in
our house； Uncle Sylvester；〃 said Kitty； with a flushed cheek and
vibrating voice。
〃Oh； it's youis it？〃 said Uncle Sylvester's voice cheerfully。 〃I
thought it was Bridget out there。 No； I don't intend to find it
uncomfortable。 That's why I'm putting these things outside。 But；
for Heaven's sake； don't YOU touch them。 Leave that to the
ineffable ass who put them there。 Good…night！〃
The door closed； the whispering voices of the girls faded from the
corridor； the lights were lowered in the central hall； only the red
Cyclopean eye of an enormous columnar stove； like a lighthouse；
gleamed through the darkness。 Outside； the silent night sparkled；
glistened； and finally paled。 Towards morning； having invested the
sturdy wooden outer walls of the house and filmed with delicate
tracery every available inch of window pane； it seemed stealthily
to invade the house itself； stilling and chilling it as it drew
closer around its central heart of warmth and life。 Only once the
frigid stillness was broken by the opening of a door and steps
along the corridor。 This was preceded by an acrid smell of burning
bark。
It was subtle enough to permeate the upper floor and the bedroom
of Marie du Page； who was that night a light and nervous sleeper。
Peering from her door； she could see； on the lower corridor； the
extraordinary spectacle of Uncle Sylvester； robed in a gorgeous
Japanese dressing…gown of quilted satin trimmed with the fur of
the blue