How could we do it, if even we had wished to get out of our warm beds, and create a disturbance on such a wild night.
"Good gracious! the house is coming down," I cried, as a fresh shudder ran through the slight framework of, our little wooden home.

"Pray go out, and see what is the matter." Thus urged, F---- opened a casement on the sheltered side,--if any side could be said to be sheltered in such weather,--and cautiously put his head out.

I peered over his shoulder, and never can I forget the ridiculous sight which met our eyes.

There, dripping and forlorn, huddled together under the wide roof of our summer parlour, as the verandah used to be often called, the whole mob of horses had gathered themselves.

The garden gate chanced to have been left open, and, evidently under old Jack's' guidance, they had all walked into the verandah, wandered disconsolately up and down its boarded floor, and after partaking of a slight refreshment in the shape of my best creepers, had proceeded to make themselves at home by rubbing their wet sides against the pillars and the wooden sides of the house itself.
No wonder the noise had aroused us all.