"We must get our wood under cover," said Marco, "or it will get wet and won't burn, and then our fire will go out."
"True," said Forester. "There is room for some of it in this hut. Let us get up and put it in."
So Marco and Forester arose, and, as they were already dressed, they were soon at work, putting the logs into the hut. Marco then proposed that they should go into the forest, where it did not rain, and get some more wood. But Forester said he thought that would be of no service, as they had no provisions, and, of course, could not stay there. "We must go," said he, "at any rate, whether it rains or not; for it is better to get wet than to starve."
"We have got something left in our bag," said Marco.
"Yes," replied Forester, "just enough for breakfast."
"How I wish I had a bushel of potatoes," said Marco. "Then we could stay here a week. Only we should want a little salt too."
Forester opened the bag and took out the provisions which were left. They found about enough for a breakfast for them, but they concluded to eat but half of their supply, as Forester thought it was best that they should put themselves upon short allowance.
"You see, it is possible," said Forester, "that we may be kept here in the woods a day or two; so we must use our provisions economically."
After breakfast, they went into the forest a little way, where they found that they were protected from the rain by the trees. This proved, as Forester said, that it had not been raining very long; and he thought, from appearances, that it would soon clear up.
At a little distance from their encampment, they found another hut, which was in better condition than either of those which they had seen before. It was covered with strips of birch bark, which made a very good roof. Some of these strips, or rather sheets, for they were quite large, had fallen down, and Marco ran and got one of them, exclaiming,