The building was of the description most usual in the region, constructed of logs, unhewn and unchinked, with a loft and a wide open space beneath, where a wagon, two or three plows, and a sorghum-mill stood. The brilliant moonlight fell through each crevice, its silver sheen alternating with the black shadow of the logs; the whole place was pervaded by this tempered splendor, and through the broad open pass-way he could see the white frost gleam responsive upon the expanse of the fields, on the rails of the fence, on the boughs of a great pallid, denuded tree with its stark and wintry shadows, on the clumps of broad mullein leaves beside the door. The horned heads of the three cows were distinct in the placid divergent rays, filtering through the crannies as the animals still stood at their manger; and on the opposite side the two sorrel mares were half dozing, and did not so much as cast a glance toward him as he entered the shadowy place, so accustomed had they become to this in-coming and out-going of nocturnal visitants. A slim little filly, however, hardly larger than the calf that stood near by, came frisking out to see who was heralded by the sound of the step, and seemed to consider a great up-kicking and a series of bounding gambols on its wiry, angular legs an appropriate greeting; then finally disappeared into the shadows of its dam’s stall. The calf suddenly backed its ears, and sought to imitate the filly’s deft demivolt in a stiff bovine caper; then stood still once more, earnestly watching Clem as he made his way to the ladder, the rungs of which were very far apart, and up into the loft.