CHAPTER XXII
THE OLD LUMBERMAN
Finding an injured man in a lonely cabin, practically snowed in, was not the only surprise the girls were to receive that day. The other followed quickly on the heels of the first. It was Mollie who "sprung it," as Will said afterward, and even Grace did not rebuke him for his slang.
Betty, followed by the others—rather timidly followed, it must be confessed—approached the bunk where the man lay. He had indeed fainted and his face was woefully white. Then Mollie cried out:
"Why it's that man—the one who rescued us from the ice floe. It's the kind lumberman!"
The others stared at her for a moment, and then looked at the burly form amid the rough blankets. A light broke over Betty's face.
"It is the same one!" she cried. "Oh, girls, here is a chance for us to repay him for what he did for us!"
"But what—what can we do?" asked Grace. "We can't fix his broken leg!"
"No, but we can get him something to eat—some hot coffee, and revive him. Then we can go for help!" exclaimed practical Betty. "Now, girls, the first thing to do is to build a fire, and heat some water. The doctor will want that when he comes. We'll make some coffee, too. Then we'll see what is next to be done."
The outdoor girls were used to doing things for themselves. They had not lived in their cabin a month, building fires, getting their own meals and doing practically all the hard work, for nothing. They knew how to proceed, now that there was need of haste.