But the family had been so long deciding this question, that Fortune seemed now to take it out of their hands, and decide it for them.
It suddenly grew dark, and an outcry from the boys interrupted Vinnie. The tornado was coming.
All rose, save Cecie,—who remained seated where she had been placed at the table,—and pressed to the door and windows.
The baby wakened in the next room, and began to cry, and Caroline went to take it up. The boys rushed out of the house. Vinnie turned pale and asked, "Where are they? Jack and Link!"
"As well off as they would be here probably," replied Lord Betterson. "Shut doors and windows fast. That horse should have been taken care of."
"Jack wouldn't let us put him up. I'll do it now," cried Rufe.
But he had hardly begun to undo the halter, when he saw the utter impossibility of getting the horse to the stable before the storm would be upon them. So, to prevent Snowfoot from breaking away and dashing the buggy to pieces, he determined to leave him tied to the tree, and stand by his head, until the first whirl or rush should have passed. This he attempted to do; and patted and encouraged the snorting, terrified animal, till he was himself flung by the first buffet of the hurricane back against the pillar of the porch, where he clung.
"Oh! what is that?" screamed Lill, watching with Vinnie from the window.