Part 25 (1/2)
”Let it freeze,” grumbled Glutts. ”I'm not going out again, now I'm comfortable here.”
As there was no love lost between the newcomers and our friends, the conversation languished after this. Gif showed Glutts and Werner where they might sleep in the bedroom which had not been occupied, and gave them the necessary bedding and some extra blankets. Then the pair shoved off without even saying good-night and closed the door behind them.
”Real loving and thankful--I don't think,” whispered Randy.
”I don't see why those fellows were wished on us,” growled his twin.
”I'd just as lief have a skunk in the place as to have either of that pair.”
”Well, we couldn't leave them out in the storm to perish,” answered Jack, in a low tone; ”so we'll have to make the best of it.”
”Just the same,” whispered Fred, ”I'm going to keep my eyes and ears wide open while they are here.”
CHAPTER XVII
NEW YEAR'S DAY IN CAMP
When Randy and Andy retired it was a long while before the merry twins could get to sleep again.
”We ought to play some good joke on them,” was the way Andy expressed it. ”Something they would remember.”
”I'd do it in a minute, Andy, if it wasn't that they are so worn out,”
responded his twin. ”But I don't think Jack and Fred would like it at all if we disturbed 'em. And, besides, you must remember that while we are here we're Gif's guests.”
Gif and Jack were the first to get up in the morning, and they had the fire revived and breakfast underway before any of the others showed themselves.
”Where are Glutts and Werner?” questioned Spouter, when he appeared.
”They haven't showed themselves yet, Spouter,” answered Jack. ”Might as well let them sleep as long as they want to. They can't leave here in such a storm as this.”
The snow was still coming down and the wind was blowing almost as fiercely as it had during the early part of the night. Gazing through the windows, the cadets saw that all of the cedars were bent down with the weight of the fine white crystals. The snow had swept up along one side of the little barn until there was an unbroken line reaching up to the very top.
”Well, I never!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jack, turning around suddenly to his chums.
”Happy New Year, everybody!”
”Happy New Year!” came from the others, including Fred and the twins, who had just got up.
”Gos.h.!.+ I forgot all about it's being New Year's,” exclaimed Fred.
”This looks like a real New Year's Day, and no mistake,” remarked Randy.
”Look outside! Isn't it just like a picture on a New Year's card?”
”It is a.s.suredly a spectacle to fill one with awe and reverence,” came from Spouter. ”Just gaze upon that magnificent stretch of snowy mantle and those tall cedars bending low before the wintry blasts! Can you imagine what this must be in the solemn depth of the mighty forest, where not a footfall is heard nor a--”
”Jack rabbit can get as much as a turnip to eat?” finished Randy gayly.
”Spouter, if you are going to orate, why don't you stand on the table when you turn on the spigot?”
”Let us have a regular New Year's dinner!” cried Gif, ”and then Spouter can do the speech-making--”