"Have supper," suggested Heavy, calmly. "No matter what we have to face, we can do it better after eating."
They laughed, but took her advice. Nobody failed to produce an appetite at the proper time.
"Dear me!" exclaimed Belle, "if only mother knew we were safe I'd be content to stay all night. It's fun."
"And if we had some salt," complained Lluella. "I don't like fish without salt—not much."
"You're a fine female Robinson Crusoe," laughed Tom. "This is real 'roughing it.' I expect all you girls will weaken by morning."
"Oh, oh!" cried his sister, "you talk as though you thought we would be obliged to stay here, Tom."
"I don't just see how we're to get out to-night," Tom returned, grimly. "Not from this end of the cave, at any rate. I tell you, tons and tons of snow fell into its mouth."
"But you know the other way out, Ruthie?" urged Lluella, half inclined to cry.
"I think so," returned the girl of the Red Mill.
"Then just hunt for the way," said Belle, firmly. "If it has stopped snowing I want to go home."