"I don't know _when_ I've seen the windows closed up so, Hank; go down to thirty below to-night; devilish strong wind blowing, too; tough night on the prairies, Hank." "You bet," replied Hank, briefly.
The Colonel was plainly getting excited.

His razor-like back curved sharper than ever as he peered into the intricacies of the board to spy the trap which the fat Squire had set for him.

At this point the squeal of boots on the icy walk outside paused, and a moment later Amos Ridings entered, with whiskers covered with ice, and looking like a huge bear in his buffalo coat.
"By Josephus! it's cold," he roared, as he took off his gloves and began to warm his face and hands at the fire.
"Is it ?" asked the Judge, comfortably, rising on his tiptoes, only to fall back into his usual attitude legal, legs well spread, shoulders thrown back.
"You bet it is!" replied Amos.

"I d'know when I've felt the cold more'n I have t'-day.

It's jest snifty; doubles me up like a jack-knife, Judge.
How do you stand it ?" "Toler'ble, toler'ble, Amos.