The barn was an old one, evidently abandoned years before!
“Come on in,” said Fred, refusing to be discouraged. “It can’t be as cold as it is outside. And because the barn isn’t used is no sign there isn’t a house near. There must be a house!”
The six forlorn chums stepped inside the dark doorway and found themselves in a cavern, or so it seemed to them.
“Be careful,” warned Polly. “Some of the boards may be rotten and we might step through them, or fall into a hole.”
They felt their way carefully, following the wall, till they were well back from the doorway through which they had entered. Protected in a measure from the wind, they felt warmer at once.
“You stand still,” commanded Fred. “I’m going over to that other doorway and look out.”
He felt his way around slowly, and when he felt the wind blow full in his face he knew he had reached the other doorway.
“Say, I see a light!” he called to the others. “A little light, and that must be in a house. It looks a mile away, but I’ll bet you it is a house.”
“I won’t go another step,” declared Margy, sitting down on the floor. “Not another step. I’m too tired to move.”
“But you’ll freeze here,” said Polly. “Won’t she, Fred?”