Nan dearly loved the dogs with which she was well acquainted, but she was in great terror of strange animals, especially if they barked loudly and showed a disposition¹ to bite.  
"Bert! Bert! what shall we do?" she gasped² as she clung to her twin brother's arm.
 
Bert hardly knew what to say, for he himself did not like a biting dog. He looked around for a stick or a stone, and espied³ the doorway⁴ to the cow-shed. It was open.
 
"Let us get into the shed," he said quickly. "Perhaps we can close the door and keep the dog out."
 
Into the shed sprang Nan and her twin brother after her. The dog was almost upon them when Bert banged the door in his face. At once the animal stopped short and began to bark more furiously than ever.
 
"Do you—you think he can get in at the window?" faltered⁵ Nan. She was so scared she could scarcely speak.
 
"I don't know, I'm sure. If you'll stand by the door, Nan, I'll try to guard the window."
 
Nan threw her form against the door and held it as hard as if a giant were outside trying to force it in. Bert felt around the empty shed and picked up the handle of a broken spade. With this in hand he stalked over to the one little window which was opposite the door.
 
"Are there any cows here?" asked Nan. It was so dark she could see next to nothing.
 
"No cows here, I guess," answered Bert. "This building is 'most ready to tumble down."
 
The dog outside was barking still. Once in a while he would stop to catch his breath and then he would continue as loudly as ever. He scratched at the door with his paw, which made Nan shiver from head to feet.
 
"He is trying to work his way in," she cried.
 
"If he does that, I'll hit him with this," answered her twin brother, and brandished⁶ the spade handle over his head. He watched the window closely and wondered what they had best do if the dog leaped straight through and attacked them in the dark.
 
The barking continued for over quarter of an hour. To Nan and Bert it seemed hours and hours. Then came a call from a distance.
 
"Hi, Tige, what's the matter? Have you spotted⁷ a tramp in the shed?"
 
"Help! help!" called out Bert. "Call off your dog!"
 
"A tramp, sure enough," said the man who was coming toward the cow-shed.
 
"I am not a tramp," answered Bert. "And my sister isn't a tramp, either."
 
"What's that? You've got your sister with you? Open the door."
 
"Please, we are afraid of the dog," came from Nan. "He came after us and we ran into the shed for shelter."
 
"Oh, that's it?" The farmer gave a short laugh. "Well, you needn't be skeert! Tige won't hurt ye none."
 
"Are you sure of that?" put in Bert. "He seems to be very savage⁸."
"I won't let him touch ye."
 
Thus assured Nan opened the door and followed Bert outside. At a word from the farmer Tige stopped barking and began to wag his tail.
 
"That dog wouldn't hurt nobody, 'ceptin' he was attacked, or if a person tried to git in my house," said Farmer Sandborn. "He's a very nice fellow, he is, and likes boys and gals⁹ fust-rate; don't ye, Tige?" And the dog wagged his tail harder than ever, as if he understood every word.
 
"I—I was so scared," said Nan.
 
"May I ask what you be a-doin' on the road all alone and in this snowstorm?"
 
"We are going home," answered Bert, and then explained how they had been ice-boating and what had happened on the lake.
 
"I do declare!" cried Farmer Sandborn. "So the boat up an' run away with ye, did she? Contrary critter, eh!" And he began to laugh. "Who be you?"
 
"I am Bert Bobbsey and this is my twin sister Nan."
 
"Oh, yes, I know now. You're one pair o'[Pg 101] the Bobbsey twins, as they call 'em over to Lakeport. I've heard Sary speak o' ye. Sary's my wife." The farmer ran his hand through his thick beard. "You can't tramp home in this storm."
 
"Oh, we must get home," said Nan. "What will mamma say? She will think we are killed, or drowned, or something,—and she isn't over t............