The fact, however, that they were lost, was no longer to be concealed; and Lucy proposed that they should go into the woods, where the tops of the trees would act as a sort of umbrella, to keep the snow from falling upon them, and wait there until it stopped snowing; and then the air would be clear, and they could find their way out.
"O," said Rollo, "I can easily make a hut of hemlock branches, and we can go into that for shelter."
"But, Rollo," said Nathan, "how do you know but that it will snow all day? We can't stay in the woods all day."
"No," said Rollo; "when it snows in great flakes, it is not going to snow long. Jonas told me so."
So the children went into the woods, and Rollo began to make his hut; but he was soon interrupted, and the attention of all the children was called off by a little bird, which they saw there, hopping about, and appearing benumbed with cold. After some effort, Rollo succeeded in catching her in his cap.
"We'll carry her home," said Nathan; "we'll carry her home, and show her to mother."
"Yes," said Rollo, "I'll carry her in my cap."
"No," said Lucy, "you must have your cap on your head, or you will take cold. Let me carry her in my hands."
"No," said Rollo, "you will have to lead Nathan. I'll tell you what we will do. We will put her into the basket, for a cage."
Lucy, on the whole, liked this plan, and they accordingly put the bird in the basket, and Rollo contrived to make a cover of boughs, to keep her from getting away.