In fact, the east side of the Peterkins' house formed a blank wall. The owner had originally planned a little block of semi-detached houses. He had completed only one, very semi and very detached. 

"It is not necessary to see," said Agamemnon, profoundly; "of course, if the storm blows against this side of the house, the house itself must keep the snow from the other side." 

"Yes," said Solomon John, "there must be a space clear of snow on the east side of the house, and if we could open a way to that "--"We could open a way to the butcher," said Mr. Peterkin, promptly. 

Agamemnon went for his pick-axe. He had kept one in the house ever since the adventure of the dumb-waiter. 

"What part of the wall had we better attack?" asked Mr. Peterkin. 

Mrs. Peterkin was alarmed. 

"What will Mr. Mudge, the owner of the house, think of it?" she exclaimed. "Have we a right to injure the wall of the house?" 

"It is right to preserve ourselves from starving," said Mr. Peterkin. "The drowning man must snatch at a straw!" 

"It is better that he should find his house chopped a little when the thaw comes," said Elizabeth Eliza, "than that he should find us lying about the house, dead of hunger, upon the floor." 

Mrs. Peterkin was partially convinced. 

The little boys came in to warm their hands. They had not succeeded in opening the side door, and were planning trying to open the door from the wood-house to the garden. 

"That would be of no use," said Mrs. Peterkin, "the butcher cannot get into the garden." 

"But we might shovel off the snow," suggested one of the little boys, "and dig down to some of last year's onions." 

Meanwhile, Mr. Peterkin, Agamemnon, and Solomon John had been bringing together their carpenter's tools, and Elizabeth Eliza proposed using a gouge, if they would choose the right spot to begin. 

The little boys were delighted with the plan, and hastened to find,--one, a little hatchet, and the other a gimlet. Even Amanda armed herself with a poker. 

"It would be better to begin on the ground floor," said Mr. Peterkin. 

 Prev. P 16/124 next