Vosh Stebbins came over after supper, and he met Deacon Farnham at the gate. There was nothing unaccountable in that; but the boys heard him say, just as he was following the deacon in,—
"No, we won't need any snow-shoes. I'll take mine along."
"I'll take mine too, but the crust's strong enough without 'em."
"It'll be weak in spots in the woods: Sile Hathaway says it is."
Those were great words for two boys to hear,—"woods" and "Sile Hathaway."
"Port," said Corry, "something's coming."
"Hark!"
"Yes, deacon, Sile says the deer break right through, every here and there. There's droves of 'em, and the storm's kind o' driven 'em down this way."
"I've known it happen so more'n once."
"Port," whispered Corry, as if it were an awful secret, "I know now: it's a deer-hunt on the crust."