The three young men, with Bert, plunged into a thicket, and disappeared, leaving the girls huddled together on the rocks, Mrs. Olmstead shedding futile tears, the others discussing the situation and suggesting ways to meet it. Once in a while Gertrude, who had brought a flash-light, turned it in the direction whither the boys had gone. The island where they had landed was but a small one, and there were no signs of a habitation upon it, only a little stretch of sandy beach, rocks above it, and, beyond, a grove of fir trees with a few birches interspersed.
In a little while the crackle of twigs announced the return of the exploring party.
“There’s a little dilapidated log hut in there,” announced Alvin as he came crashing through the underbrush; “it isn’t much of a place, but it’s better than nothing, and will give us shelter. We’d better get to it before it’s any darker. I’ll lead the way.”
The girls followed him in single file. Only glimmers of light sifted down through the sombre firs, and it was necessary to be careful of the footing lest one stumble and come to grief. At last they reached the spot where Tom and Reed were busily gathering boughs to fling upon the floor of the cabin, which was a rough structure, one side open to the winds. There was no chimney, and through chinks between the logs one could peer out into the surrounding thicket.
“Now, you all make yourselves as comfortable as you can,” suggested Tom, “while we fellows go back for the baskets and things.”
“Gee! I’m glad you didn’t throw away all that provender,” exclaimed Bert. “We’ll be as hungry as the dickens before morning.”
“Oh, Bert!” wailed his sister again, lapsing into tears.
Reed tossed his overcoat to Ellen. “Keep that,” he said; “I’ll not need it yet a while.”
“Bert, you’d better stay here and keep off the bears,” charged Alvin. “We are going after the baskets.” Then with Tom and Reed he went off.
Mabel snuggled up close to Ellen. “If we wanted adventure we surely have it,” she whispered. “It’s getting sort of shivery. I’m glad we brought warm wraps, although they seemed superfluous when we started out, didn’t they?”