A cloud of smoke had driven fairly in his face. Coughing, he retreated, until he could clear his lungs. Then he came back valorously and played stoker.
The fire began to burn more vigorously, and the flue to do its appointed part. There was less smoke, and more light in the room. Varley made his first deliberate inspection of their refuge.
The ceiling was very low; he could touch it by raising his hand. The walls were grimy and spotted. Big beams showed at the corners. The fireplace was a rough, but substantial, affair, smoke blackened. The pieces of furniture he had noticed on first entering were decrepit with age. The table lacked a leg; the settle sagged at one end; the chest of drawers was a ruin.
The Shark was taking off his overcoat, and unbuckling his high overshoes. From both shoes and coat steam was rising as they caught the heat from the fire.
Varley followed his companion’s example. As he removed his shoes, he whistled softly. The guaranteed waterproofing had not been up to the requirements of such a test as it had undergone.
The Shark sat down on the floor; so did Varley. Each clasped his hands about his knees, and stared at the fire. It was crackling merrily, but not loudly enough to drown the sounds of the rain dashing against the old house.
There was a long pause before either spoke. Then said Varley, ruminatively:
“I guess you were right—a fire does help things a lot. I shouldn’t have thought of it. Still, this is a new game for me, this knocking about in the wilds; and it’s an old story for you.”
“Not so very old,” corrected the Shark. “Had a taste of it while ago, up in the big woods. Time our crowd got caught in a blizzard we found an old shack, and took possession. And the first thing we did was to start a fire. And maybe we didn’t need it! Cold? It was! How cold? Huh! Some of the fellows were talking about thirty below. No thermometer along, though—pity! Man ought to travel equipped for taking notes. And a good, registered thermometer’d be a great comfort. So’d a barometer, eh?”
“Why—why, very likely.”