"What is it, Mrs. Thompson?" called Grace, stepping out to meet the mountaineer's wife.
"The chilern has took a frenzy, an' Ah don't know what t' do," cried the woman, wringing her hands.
Slipping an arm through hers, Grace led the woman up to the campfire.
"Compose yourself. Now what is the trouble? Are the children sick?" she asked.
"Yes'm. An' Jed's gone away an' Ah don't know what t' do. Ah thought as mebby ye'd come up to the house an' see."
"I surely will. Miss Briggs, who was a nurse in the war, will be of more assistance to you than I could be, so I will take her with me."
Jed Thompson's wife heaved a deep sigh. A load already had been lifted from her mind.
"Ah didn't think ye'd come, but Julie said as you'd come right smart."
"Julie was right," smiled Grace, "even though we are in rather bad shape here. Some one nearly destroyed our camp while we were at the dance. I will be back before long," she added, speaking to her companions. "Come, Elfreda."
On the way to the Thompson cabin the two girls questioned Mrs. Thompson as to what ailed Lizzie and Sue, those being the names of the two sick children. They were able to make but little out of her description of the children's condition.