“Yes, you could do that,” said Farmer Joel kindly.
For a few minutes longer the six little Bunkers remained looking at the big mass of ice—ice in the middle of summer. Then as the torch was burning out and as it was chilly after the warm outdoors, Mrs. Bunker told the children to go to the front of the cave.
“But we’ll come back and get some of the ice to make ice cream,” stated Russ.
“Yes,” agreed Farmer Joel.
As he had said, the storm did not last long. Soon the black clouds rolled away, the thunder and lightning ceased, and the sun came out, warmer than before. Out of the ice cave rushed the children, merrily shouting and laughing.
“Be careful now!” called their mother. “The woods are very wet!”
But dry places were found under thick evergreen trees, and there the six little Bunkers played until it was time to go home.
“And now for the ice!” cried Russ, as the wagon was driven up close to the entrance to the cave.
“I want to break off a chunk!” cried Mun Bun.
But it was decided best not to let the smaller children go into the ice cave while pieces were being broken off to take to the farmhouse for ice cream. So Russ and Rose were the only ones allowed to see Farmer Joel, Daddy Bunker, and Adam North break off pieces of ice with heavy sticks of wood. Out to the wagon the chunks were carried. There they were covered with straw to keep them from melting too much.