“Now, all we will have to do is to re-cover the greater part of the front with brush, and it will make the warmest kind of a shelter,” said Jack.
“And the best part of it all is that there is a crevice in the rear with a good upward draught,” said Boxy. “So we can build a fire inside our house, so to speak, which will be more pleasant than having it outside.”
“No snakes, are there?” asked Andy, cautiously.
“Not a one. We were careful to make a thorough search around.”
“Then that’s the spot,” put in Harry, “and the sooner we get settled the better. It promises to be very cold to-night, and we want to be where we can keep warm.”
The sled was dragged to the spot selected, and the ax gotten out. While two of the boys cleaned out the cave-like place, the others cut down poles and brush with which to shelter the front, and also collected wood for a fire.
The draught inside toward the rear was perfect, and when a fire was started on a number of stones, it blazed up merrily without letting out any of the smoke into the cave proper.
“This is fine!” cried Andy, as he sat down to rest in front of the blaze. “We ought to have had a place like this from the start.”
“Unfortunately, we didn’t know there was this cave to occupy,” laughed Harry. “But I must confess I liked the hut.”
“So did I,” said Jack. “It is only the change that pleases Andy. Nowadays in life, change is everything. We are constantly craving something new and different.”