"I told you before that you wouldn't have to pay a cent," broke in Gif. "Just the same, Glutts, we might as well come to an understanding. You know as well as I do that there is no love lost between you fellows and our crowd. You are welcome to stay here and have your dinner, and if you think you can't get out to-day you can stay here for supper and sleep here again to-night. By that time I think the storm will have cleared away, and you will be able to get over to Tony's place without trouble."
"You can take it from me, we won't stay here an hour longer than we have to," declared Werner. And then he turned back into the bedroom to finish his dressing, closing the door behind him.
The presence of the two bullies put a good deal of a damper on our friends, and as a consequence the breakfast was rather a silent one. Then Gif suggested that Glutts and Werner go out and look after their horse, and this they agreed to do.
"If you won't take any pay we'll stand for our share of the grub," announced Werner just before he went out. "We've got some goods in the sleigh, as you know. What shall I bring in?"
"Bring in whatever you think is fair," said Gif, after a few whispered words to Jack and Spouter.
The two bullies were gone the best part of an hour, and during that time the Rovers and their chums cleaned several of the rabbits and also got ready some potatoes and turnips for dinner.
"That will give us quite a meal, along with the dried lima beans that I put to soak last night," said Gif. "Of course, we'll have the plum pudding, well steamed, as Fred suggested."
"And we'll make a pan of biscuits, too," added Spouter. "Gee! by the time we get through up here, fellows, we'll be able to get jobs as chefs in some of the first-class New York hotels."
When Glutts and Werner returned they carried two packages which they threw on the living-room table.
"There are some dried apricots and a package of rice," said Werner. "They ought to help out for a New Year's dinner."