Part 21 (1/2)

”Get those in,” called d.i.c.k. ”While you're at it I'll pry more loose.”

Hen Dutcher picked up the smallest of the logs, starting for the cabin, but Greg caught him by the shoulder.

”See here, Mr. Lazy, if you're going to pick out such easy ones as that, take two at a time.”

”I can't,” sputtered Hen.

”Then I'll turn you over to Dave Darrin when you get inside.”

Hen thereupon picked up another small log, though he pretended to stagger under the double burden. Greg also carried two logs, and he staggered with good reason, for the weight was more than he should have attempted in the deep snow.

In the very little time that had pa.s.sed the snow seemed to have grown much deeper. By the time the two wood-carriers reached the doorway and were admitted they felt as though they had done an hour's work of the hardest kind.

Dave Darrin stood just inside, booted and capped.

”Good enough,” muttered Dave, holding out the air rifle. ”Now, Greg, you take this pill-shooter and let me go out for the next wood. We'll send a new fellow every time.”

”Then you can take my place, Darrin,” proposed Hen readily. ”Give me that air rifle.”

”Humph!” was all Dave said, as he poked Hen outdoors before him, while Dalzell and Hazelton took the logs and stacked them at the further end of the cabin.

When Dave and Hen returned they carried but a log apiece.

”d.i.c.k says each fellow is to take only one log at a time,” reported Dave. ”In that way he thinks we'll last longer and get in more wood.

Now, Hen will stay back. Tom, I see you're in your overcoat and ready.

Come along with me. Dalzell get ready for the next trip, when I come back with my second log.”

”And I'll be ready to help d.i.c.k with the crowbar,” called out Hazelton, running for his coat.

In this way the Grammar School boys worked rapidly and effectively. Hen was the only one in the crowd who made any objection to the amount of work put upon him. Yet it was an hour and a half, from the start, before d.i.c.k would agree that there was wood enough in the cabin.

”For it may snow for three days, and grow colder all the time,” Prescott explained. ”By morning it may be impossible to get out at all. We don't want to freeze to death.”

Truth to tell, the exercise had put all of the Grammar School boys in a fine glow. When, at last, the big lot of wood had been moved and stacked up inside, and they closed the door for good at last, not one of them, despite his hard work in the biting storm, felt really chilled.

”Now, what shall we do?” demanded Dave, his eyes dancing.

”Do you know what time it is?” asked d.i.c.k.

”Not far from ten o'clock.”

”Yes; past bed time for all of us.”

”Do you feel sleepy?” demanded Dave.

”I don't,” chorused four or five.

”Let's sit up as late as we like, for once,” proposed Greg Holmes.

”That's part of the fun of camping.”