BEECHNUT’S RETURN. 73

 

He finds a shelter, The farmer. The rain ceases.

 

 

a road that he was walking upon, it was not probable
that the water would deepen suddenly, and then, besides,
his staff, though he was very much encumbered in using
it, by having to hold the umbrella in the same hand, was
still of some service to him in enabling him to feel his
way.

He went through
the water in this way
safely. In fact, he
reached the end of it
sooner than he had
expected, As soon
as he came out of
the water, he found
that by good fortune
there was a barn and
a shed near, close by
the side of the road.
Beechnut went in
under the shed and
put on his clothes a
there. The roof of the FORDING
shed afforded him a perfect shelter. There was a farm-
er’s house a little beyond, and Beechnut, when he was
dressed, went to it and applied for a horse and wagon to
carry him the rest of the journey.

The farmer hesitated about letting his horse go out on
such a dark and rainy night. Beechnut told him that he
thought it was not going to rain much more. Im fact the
rain had then almost entirely ceased, and the farmer, on
coming out to the door to look, found that the clouds were
breaking away, and in one place the moon was beginning