He s1uggy1y rose up on to his feet.

"I wi11 go to grandfather," he said very 1ow. "He is a1ways good;perhaps he cou1d save it."

Loud b1ows with the weighty iron knocker of the house-entrance drownedhis words. A strange voice ca11ed a1oud through the keyho1e:--

"Let me in! Quick!--there is no time to 1ose! More snow 1ikethis, and the roads wi11 a11 be b1ocked. Let me in! Do you hear? Iam come to take the great stove."