All had plenty of wraps , so the girls nestled into the three large chairs , Bob and Tony rolled themselves up in the robe , with their feet to the fire , and were soon snoring like weary hunters . Mark pillowed his head on a log , and was sound asleep in ten minutes in spite of his promise to be sentinel . Gwen 's chair was the least easy of the three , and she could not forget herself like the rest , but sat wide awake , watching the blaze , counting the hours , and wondering why no one came to them . The wind blew fiercely , the snow beat against the blinds , rats scuttled about the walls , and now and then a branch fell upon the roof with a crash . Weary , yet excited , the poor girl imagined all sorts of mishaps to Pat and the horses , recalled various ghost stories she had heard , and wondered if it was on such a night as this that a neighbor 's house had been robbed . So nervous did she get at last that she covered up her face and resolutely began to count a thousand , feeling that anything was better than having to wake Mark and own she was frightened . Before she knew it she fell into a drowse and dreamed that they were all cast away on an iceberg and a polar bear was coming up to devour Gus , who innocently called to the big white dog and waited to caress him . `` A bear ! a bear ! oh , boys , save him ! '' murmured Gwen in her sleep , and the sound of her own distressed voice waked her . The fire was nearly out , for she had slept longer than she knew , the room was full of shadows , and the storm seemed to have died away . In the silence which now reigned , unbroken even by a snore , Gwen heard a sound that made her start and tremble . Some one was coming softly up the back stairs . All the outer doors were locked , she was sure ; all the boys lay in their places , for she could see and count the three long figures and little Gus in a bunch on the sofa . The girls had not stirred , and this was no rat 's scamper , but a slow and careful tread , stealing nearer and nearer to the study door , left ajar when the last load of wood was brought in . `` Pat would knock or ring , and papa would speak , so that we might not be scared . I want to scream , but I wo n't till I see that it really is some one , '' thought Gwen , while her heart beat fast and her eyes were fixed on the door , straining to see through the gloom . The steps drew nearer , paused on the threshold , and then a head appeared as the door noiselessly swung wider open . A man 's head in a fur cap , but it was neither papa nor Pat nor Uncle Ed .
Poor XXXXX would have called out then , but her voice was gone , and she could only lie back , looking , mute and motionless .
Gus Gwen Tony fire hours iceberg left night stealing storm