I did not wonder, as we journeyed on, that my informant of the _depot_ platform had used his "ups" and "downs" indiscriminately in indicating the direction of Wallencamp. In the inky blackness by which I was surrounded I was conscious, clearly, of but one sensation--that of going _up_ and _down_. The rumbling of the wheels reached me as something far off and indefinably dreadful. Then we stopped, and I crawled out like one in a dream. There was no light at the Ark to make it a distinguishable feature of the gloom. 'Rasmus found the door and knocked loudly. I became dimly conscious of the knocking, and followed 'Rasmus. "I reckon they're to bed," said he, and knocked louder. Pretty soon a clear, feminine voice, startled into musical sharpness, issued from a room quite near, with--"Who's there?" and was followed by two small, squealing voices, in unison,--"Who's there?" Then other sounds arose--sounds from some quarter mysterious and remote--low, mumbling, comfortable refrain, and ominous snatches of an uneasy grumble; then a roar that shook the Ark to its foundations:-- "Who the devil's making such a rumpus out there at this time in the mornin'?" (It was nine o'clock P.M.) 'Rasmus sent back an intrepid yell:-- "It's the _tea-cher_! It's pretty late," he said, aside, to me. "I guess I won't go in. I reckon they won't have much style on. I seen ye pay father; that's all right. I'll tip yer trunk up under the shed, and the old Cap'n 'll see to gettin' it in in the mornin'. Here's a letter the postmaster sent down to the Cap'n's folks. Good night." 'Rasmus, my only hope! I made a convulsive grasp for him in the darkness, but he was gone. It was she of the soothing, comfortable voice who took me in; and Grandma Keeler's _taking in_ I understand always in the divinest and fullest sense of the term. Further than that, I was conscious that there were white-robed and nightcapped figures moving about the room. So unearthly was their appearance that I had, at last, a confused notion of having become disengaged from the entanglements of the flesh, and fallen in with a small planetary system in the course of my wanderings through space. The centre of attraction seemed to be a table, to which the figures were constantly bringing more _pies_. The letter which 'Rasmus had directed me to hand to the "folks" was read with interest, being the one I had dispatched from Newtown, a week or two before, informing them as to the time of my arrival. Madeline rendered the brief and business-like epistle with the full effect of her peculiarly thrilling intonation, and Grandma listened with rapt attention; but, meanwhile, Grandpa Keeler and the two little Keelers found time surreptitiously to dispose of nearly a whole pie, with the serious aspect of those who will not allow a mere fleeting diversion to hinder them in the improvement of a rare opportunity. Having declined to partake of pie, through Grandma Keeler's kind interposition, I was not further urged.