"
"I think it very sad that you have learned to interpret nature in this
way so early in life. And yet I think I can understand you and your
analogy."
"I think you can, Webb," she said, simply.
CHAPTER XIII
ALMOST A TRAGEDY
The quiet sequence of daily life was soon interrupted by circumstances
that nearly ended in a tragedy. One morning Burt saw an eagle sailing
over the mountains. The snow had been greatly wasted, and in most places
was so strongly incrusted that it would bear a man's weight. Therefore
the conditions seemed favorable for the eagle hunt which he had promised
himself; and having told his father that he would look after the wood
teams and men on his way, he took his rifle and started.
The morning was not cold, and not a breath of air disturbed the sharp,
still outlines of the leafless trees. The sky was slightly veiled with a
thin scud of clouds. As the day advanced these increased in density and
darkened in hue.
Webb remarked at dinner that the atmosphere over the Beacon Hills in the
northeast was growing singularly obscure and dense in its appearance, and
that he believed a heavy storm was coming.
"I am sorry Burt has gone to the mountains to-day," said Mrs. Clifford,
anxiously.
"Oh, don't worry about Burt," was Webb's response; "there is no more
danger of his being snowed in than of a fox's."
Before the meal was over, the wind, snow-laden, was moaning about the
house.
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