Rolling up in her blankets, she pretended to be very comfortable. And at first she did not mind lying on the ground.
But as the night wore on, her back began to hurt. She rolled onto her side. In a moment it felt paralyzed, so she twisted into another position.
“Quit squirming,” Jane said in a drowsy voice. “We want to go to sleep.”
Veve lay still as long as she could. The ground had begun to feel cold through her cocoon of blankets. Then something bit her squarely in the back.
Veve jumped and flung an arm out across Jane’s face.
“Say, quiet down or we’ll toss you out of the tent,” Jane said crossly. “We want to go to sleep.”
Except for Jane and Veve, the others already were in dreamland.
“Can I help it if something bit me?” Veve muttered. “I’m cold. I’m going out and sit by the fire.”
Some distance from the tent, the remains of a log still smoldered. Taking her blankets, Veve snuggled down by the glowing coals. At first she was fairly comfortable. But as the log died down, the cold of the night again needled her shaking body.
Finding a pile of wood which had been left for the breakfast fire, Veve kindled the dying flames. Again she was comfortable for an hour or so. After that, the wood was gone and the night went on and on.