During Professor Young's instant of hesitation on the threshold, the wind gusted sheets of snow into the Skinner shanty. Quieting the dog by a low-spoken word, Deforrest stepped in and closed the door against the storm. The acrid smoke drawn from the stove by the back-draft, filled the room,—a choking cloud.
Andy stared at the intruder for an instant, and then turned again to the girl lying unconscious upon the body of her father.
Young's vision comprehended the whole tragedy. He pulled off his cap and gloves and shook the snow from his shoulders. Advanced to the bedside, a glance satisfied him that the squatter was dead and that Tess had fainted. He had recognized the dwarf the minute he saw him, and heartsick with apprehension, he wondered what he was doing there.
"Get up," said he. "Let me look at her."
The dwarf moved aside hesitatingly.
"Air she dead, too?" he whimpered.
"Bring me some water," commanded Young.
Andy went to the pail, dipped a portion of water into a small basin, and waddled back with it.
"Her daddy air dead," he offered. "Ye can see he air dead."
"Yes!" nodded Young, taking the dish.