“I mean who are those behind you?” and the hoarse voice was very tart now.
“A couple of girls and a boy,” said Rowdy. “I picked ’em up back there by the trap.”
“Well! But we don’t keep a hotel,” said the second boy.
“Hush!” commanded Rowdy. “Where are your manners? And they come from the Lodge,” he added.
“How are we going to feed so many people?” was the rather selfish demand of the second boy from the cave.
“Mercy! you’re a regular pig, Rafe,” exclaimed Rowdy. “Go on. Take this rabbit. I’ll help the little girl. She’s almost done for.”
Dot Kenway really was breathless and almost exhausted. She was glad to be taken in the strong arms of Rowdy. He staggered along behind the one called Rafe, and so came to an opening behind a bowlder which seemed to have been rolled by nature against the hillside.
The hole was sheltered from the direct effect of the wind that was drifting the snow in a huge mound against the bowlder. Rafe, with the rabbit, dived first into the hole. Rowdy followed, with Dot in his arms.
“Oh! Oh!” cried the littlest girl with delight. “Here’s a fire.”
“Isn’t that splendid?” demanded Tess, who came next and saw the blaze at the back of the cave, between two stones. “Why! what a nice cave you’ve got here.”