"Let's sit down on the bridge and rest a bit before taking that climb," suggested Nita.
"I never did see any one get as tired as you do, Nita. When it is anything that you don't particularly fancy, you are the most tiredest person!" said Zan, impatiently.
"Well, come to think of it, I don't see why it was necessary for me to help when there are so many other useless hands here—Nancy is doing all the work!" retorted Nita.
"You'd better get rid of all the ire you have stored up, Nita, for we are going to pay fines for every mistake—I said mistake for politeness' sake—after our next council!" warned Zan.
Nita laughed musically, but Zan knew that laugh and was aware that Nita was in one of her most stubborn moods.
She sat down on the heavy cross-bar of the bridge to rest but the other girls had no desire to wait, and Nancy kept on going until the foot of the slope was reached. Here, the wheels were removed and the load of wood was dragged up by the ropes.
With the lumber deposited on the Bluff, Nancy was given a piece of sugar and discharged from duty. The old horse stood watching the girls for a short time until Zan spied her standing in the foot-path that led down to the cottage.
"Just look at that horse? Did you ever see a more intelligent look in a dumb animal's eyes? She seems to say, 'What under the sun did you want those old boards for—I'm going to wait and see!'"
The others turned and laughed at Nancy's look. At that the old horse turned and went down the hill.
"There, now she's insulted at our laughter!" said Miss Miller.