On they went again for a half hour more, and Ted was beginning to believe it was folly to go any farther when his pony stumbled and almost fell. In front of them loomed a darkness more intense than before. Ted scrambled from the back of his pony and led it forward. The pony had stumbled over the horse block at the very door of the Long Tom ranch house. CHAPTER II. THE LONG TOM RANCH. Ted and Stella raised such a shout that Carl pulled his horses up just in time to keep them from trying to climb upon the veranda. With the aid of his searchlight Ted had found the door and entered the house, followed by Stella. In the big, front living room they found a lamp, which they lighted and looked around. The house had been left ready for occupancy, and in the great, wide fireplace logs were piled high ready to be burned. In a moment Ted had a fire leaping high up the chimney, then hastened out to the carriage. Carl had scrambled down from the seat of the carriage, and was so cold and numb that he couldn't walk, while Mrs. Graham had to be carried into the house by Ted and placed before the fire to thaw out. Soon the room was comfortable, and Ted, who had set out on a tour of inspection, found that the kitchen was well stored with food. He started a fire, and soon had coffee and bacon cooking. Outside the storm continued to rage through the night, but all within was tight and warm, and Stella and her aunt retired to their comfortable bedrooms. But Ted sat up through the night. He had considered starting back through the storm to the herd, but thought better of it, for Bud was perfectly capable of doing all that could be done with the cattle until daylight came to their rescue. While daylight was struggling up through the leaden eastern sky the wind died down as suddenly as it had risen, and the snow ceased falling. Ted had fallen into a doze in a chair in front of the fire, but a stray sunbeam coming through a window fell upon his closed eyelids, and he awoke with a start. For a minute he could not think where he was. Then the cheery voice of Stella fell upon his ears. Somewhere in the distance she was singing, and he sprang to his feet and looked about him. It came to him that he was at the Long Tom, and he remembered having left the Circle S herd out in the blizzard. This stirred him to action, and he went back to the kitchen with the intention of lighting the fire and getting breakfast. He stopped in the doorway in astonishment. Stella, with her sleeves rolled to the elbows, was busily engaged at the stove, singing as she worked. "Good morning," said Ted. "You beat me to it. Why didn't you wake me up and put me to work?"