BOBBIT’S HOTEL. 43

“There now!” said Bobbit, grandly, “ what do you think
of this fur a cheap Hotel?”

 

The storm seemed all at once to have stopped; the great
curve of the boiler shut it out; only a dim, dull roar, like
that of distant machinery, or fire, or river-dams, sounded
about them. Bobbit pulled up an old hogshead-top against
the open mouth of the boiler; this made it very dark, but
almost warm, in the hotel. The little Irish boys felt around
with their hands, and found that there were dry leaves, salt