Snowbound Mystery (5 page)
Watch’s legs seemed to grow shorter and shorter. He could not trot now, he had to hop along over the deep snow.
But they made it. When Henry unlocked the cabin door the snow was four inches deep on the step. They stamped their feet and went in and locked the door behind them.
“Well!” said Jessie.
Nobody else said a word. They all took off their jackets and hung them on nails to dry. Henry fixed the fire, saying nothing. It was already twelve o’clock. Jessie got a pan of water from the faucet and put it on the stove to heat. She thought her family needed some hot chocolate. They thought so, too, when they smelled it.
Violet got out the frying pan and soon bacon was frying. When they sat down to eat, Henry said, “Now I have something to say. This is a very early snow. Nobody expected it. It can’t possibly last long and we are in no danger.”
Jessie said, “Just one thing bothers me. Grandfather must be worrying about us, and the Nelsons probably are, too.”
“But we can’t do a thing about it,” said Henry. “We can’t get down to the road and we can’t send a message.”
“So let’s enjoy it!” finished Benny.
“That’s exactly what I mean,” said Henry, smiling at his brother. “I’m going out in the snow soon to shovel the steps and a narrow path around the house. Then I’m going to clear a small place in the back of the house under the window where the trees were cut down. Right under the bird feeder.”
“I’ll help you,” said Benny. “There are two shovels.”
“Thanks, Ben.”
It was cold and still snowing hard. The two boys managed to shovel an open square under the window. They threw the snow to one side.
Henry said, “This cleared place will fill up right away, but we can shovel it out again.”
“It will be easier the second time,” Benny said. “Not so deep.”
Henry looked up at the roof to see the squirrels’ hole, but he could hardly see the roof! It was deep with white snow. He said, “I guess the squirrels won’t have to worry for a while. I’m not going up on the roof today, hole or no hole.”
“Another noisy night, then,” said Benny. “We could invite the squirrels down and play with them, if we didn’t have Watch.”
“Now, Ben, don’t get any ideas,” said his big brother. “I’d just like to know how big that hole is.”
The hole was simply enormous. But the Aldens did not know that yet.
T
hat night when the Aldens went to bed it was still snowing. And it was getting colder. More than that, the wind was beginning to blow.
“I call this a blizzard,” said Henry. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
And indeed there had never been anything like it in this part of the country at this time of the year. The wind made so much noise that the children did not mind the squirrels at all. They somehow managed to sleep.
But when the family woke in the morning they could hardly see outdoors! The snow was so deep that it covered the lower half of the one window.
“Poor Grandfather,” said Violet as she tried to look out. “I’m sure he is worrying about us.” She climbed on the window seat and looked over the snow, then she called, “Henry, you won’t believe it! The snow is up to the bird feeder and the basket is buried in snow.”
Benny, Jessie, and Henry climbed up to look. They could see only the handle of the basket.
“My radio!” shouted Benny. He almost fell off the window seat. “I’ll tune in Greenfield and get the news. Maybe they’re sending out special messages because of the storm.”
Jessie began to get breakfast. Henry started to put on his warmest clothes, but he did not explain why.
“Listen, here’s the news,” Benny said.
The newsman on the radio said, “As a service to our listeners during the blizzard we are broadcasting special messages. Please listen carefully. Mr. Allan Moore is safe, but he wants his family to know that he can’t get home today. The Police Chief wants people to stay calm. The streets will be cleared as soon as possible. The Fire Department wants everyone to be careful about overheating stoves and causing fires. Mr. James Alden wants to notify his grandchildren that they should stay in the hunters’ cabin. He will get help to them as soon as he can.”
Benny said, “Just like Grandfather!”
“Isn’t it?” said Jessie. She was feeling better now, after hearing the news from her grandfather. “I think I shall make some more hot chocolate for breakfast. We all need something hot.”
But when she turned the faucet, nothing happened.
“No water, Henry!” she cried.
“I bet the pipe is frozen,” said Henry.
“Never mind, never mind!” said Jessie, smiling.
“What’s the idea, Jessie?” asked Benny.
“I’m going to make hot chocolate just the same. I’m going to melt some snow.”
Henry opened the door wide enough to scoop up the snow with the big saucepan. “Heap it high, Henry,” Jessie said. “It will soon melt down.”
She put the pan on the stove. The great pile of soft, white snow began to get smaller and smaller. In a little while the water boiled.
“I’ll use the powdered milk in the chocolate,” said Jessie.
The family enjoyed breakfast. The hot chocolate helped them all.
Then they knew why Henry had put on heavy clothes. He said, “I’m going out, Ben, to see if I can shovel out this new snow around the house. And I want to get the snow cleared again from the bird feeder. Want to come?”
“Of course,” said Benny. “Wait till I get dressed.”
The snow was up to Benny’s waist. The boys dug out the narrow path around the house, throwing the snow off to one side. The wind blew and the snow got in their eyes.
Inside the cabin the girls could hear the two shovels going. “Let’s get dressed,” said Violet.
Then Jessie said, “Look at that window!”
The snow was disappearing! The girls could see a shovel come in and go out, taking a pile of snow with it.
“Good. We can begin to see out,” nodded Jessie. “Those boys are strong.”
Soon the Aldens could see each other through the window, two girls on one side and two boys on the other. They waved and laughed.
The boys were tired when they came in to lunch. But Henry said, “After lunch I must go and get more wood. Want to come, Ben?”
“You bet I want to come,” answered Benny. “But this time I’m going to wear snowshoes. I don’t like to sink down into the snow. It’s too deep.”
“What are you going to use for snowshoes?” asked Jessie.
“Those two big kettle covers on the shelf. They don’t go with any kettles we have here.”
“I suppose a long time ago the hunters had two big kettles up here,” said Jessie. “I don’t know why, though.”
“Probably for deer meat stew,” said Benny. “I’m glad we don’t have to eat that.” He could hardly wait to make his snowshoes.
“How are you going to make those covers stay on your feet, Ben?” asked Violet.
“Well, I’m going to use two belts,” said Benny. “And I’m going to make two holes in each cover.”
Even Henry watched Benny as he punched two long slits in each cover with his biggest knife blade. He used Tom Nelson’s hammer to pound with. He slipped a leather belt through the slits in each cover. Putting a boot on each cover, he buckled the straps, using new holes in the belts. He pulled the belts tight and pushed the ends under his boot lacings.
“Good for you, Ben!” said Henry. “Let’s see you walk.”
What a noise Benny made! Clank, clank!
He said, “This is worse than the noise the squirrels make. But these snowshoes will be fine on the deep snow. No noise at all.”
Jessie helped Benny into his sweater and jacket and heavy gloves. He took one shovel to use as a ski pole, and Henry took the ax. Before they went, they shoveled the steps again. Snowflakes were still falling fast. They were whirling around in the wind.
“Those snowshoes really work, Violet,” said Jessie, as they watched the boys. Benny was walking on top of the snow, and Henry was wading in up to his waist. “I hope they won’t get lost.”
“They won’t,” said Violet. “They’ll stay together.”
“Now, how can we surprise the boys?” Jessie began to think. She said, “I wonder what Grandfather meant when he said he would send help? Today? Tomorrow?”
Violet said, “I think he meant to go ahead and eat what we have. I hope so.”
“That’s what I thought he meant,” said Jessie. “Let’s have sandwiches for lunch. And why don’t we surprise the boys with a big chicken stew for tonight? We have a whole chicken in a can, and we can put in a can of spaghetti. We know how to get hot water when we haven’t any water.”
The girls started to take the chicken meat off the bones. Then they put the chicken and spaghetti with some hot water in the saucepan. Violet said in great excitement, “I’ve thought of a second surprise for the boys! Snow ice cream!”
“Wonderful!” said Jessie. “We’ve got plenty of snow for everything. But I’ve forgotten how to make it. I think we take a little milk and put in sugar and melt it, and then vanilla—oh, but we haven’t any vanilla.”
The two girls began to think. Then Jessie said, “We could melt the currant jelly and that would make it taste like currant. Just as good as vanilla.”
“It would make it pink ice cream!” said Violet.
No sooner said than done. Jessie began to mix the powdered milk and jelly and sugar. “We won’t put in the snow until it is time for dessert. Look, here come the boys now.”
Benny and Henry had armfuls of wood. “That wood looks like Henry’s work,” said Violet, laughing. “All the sticks are the same length.”
Benny came first on his snowshoes. He could walk faster. Henry had to lift his feet high over the snow at every step.
Benny called, “We’re going right back. We had to leave a few sticks. But wait till I put my muffler on for a belt!”
“I should think so,” said Jessie, trying not to laugh. “Want any help?”
“Yes, I do. Maybe one muffler won’t go around me.”
“One is enough,” said Jessie, “unless it is pinching you.”
“No, it doesn’t pinch me. And isn’t this good wood? It’s all old and dry. Henry picked it out.”
“Wonderful!” agreed the girls.
The boys started back for the rest of the wood. Watch began to bark.
“No, you can’t come, Watch,” Benny called. “You’d drown.”
But Watch went on barking louder and harder.
“He’s barking at squirrels, I guess,” said Jessie.
“No, he isn’t, Jessie,” said Violet. “Listen!”
There was a strange low cry outside. The girls opened the door and looked at the snowy path. The boys were just starting out again.
“Oh!” said Jessie. “It’s the two deer we saw in the woods!”
The boys had stopped and were looking at the two animals, half buried in the snow. The deer were trying to get on their feet. They fell and got up again.
The boys turned around and came quietly back to the cabin.
Henry said in a low voice, “We don’t want to scare them. They think if they find people, they will find something to eat, too.”
T
he four Aldens left the door open a crack. The deer were half buried in the snow, and they struggled to stand up.
“They don’t want any help,” said Benny.
“They don’t need any,” said Henry. “They are up now.”
The two deer shook themselves to get the snow off. Still more snow came down on them. But slowly the two animals came toward the cabin. They sniffed. Their soft brown eyes looked at the door.
The deer went down the path that the boys had dug and found the open space. The Aldens went quietly over to the window and looked out. The gentle animals were tired out. They lay down and licked each other.
Benny said, “Listen, I’m hearing things! I think I’m dreaming! Is someone calling?”
But Benny did hear real voices. He opened the door and took one look. Then he shouted, “Henry, put on your jacket and bring me mine!” Then he jumped down the steps to the path.
Henry took both jackets from the hook and struggled through the snow. The girls looked down the path. Something—or someone—was lying in the snow. A man with a little boy on his shoulder was leaning against a tree.
The Aldens forgot all about the deer.
“It’s the Nelsons!” said Jessie. “Oh, dear! I’m afraid Barbara has fallen in the snow. We’ll just have to wait. We can’t go out!”
“The Nelsons have come to help us,” said Violet. “I’m sure of that.”
“So am I,” said Jessie. “Look! Henry’s carrying Barbara. I’ll get a sleeping bag and put it in front of the fireplace.”
“I’ll get it,” said Violet. She disappeared. Jessie held the door wide open.
Barbara was talking in a weak voice to Henry. “Oh, I’m so ashamed to give out, Henry! I thought I could make it. But I didn’t know how bad it was.”
Henry said, “Don’t say such things about yourself! I wonder you got here at all. You were kind and brave.” He put Mrs. Nelson down on the sleeping bag. Jessie put another bag under her head.
“Oh, I can sit up! I’m sure I can,” said Barbara.
“You stay right there, Barbara,” advised Jessie, kneeling down beside her. “Later you can sit on the couch.”
