“I believe she’s half frozen. She was sitting where a constant knife of air was coming in around the door,” whispered Jim. “Get busy and massage her.”
Janet, with Helen helping her, stripped off Miss Bruder’s thin gloves. Her hands were pitifully white.
Ed scooped up a handful of snow where it had sifted in around the door and used it to rub Miss Bruder’s hands while Janet and Helen massaged the upper part of her body and her face.
It was five minutes before the teacher responded to their frantic efforts. Then her eyes opened and she tried to smile.
“I must have dozed for a moment,” she whispered.
“Don’t talk,” said Helen. “Rest now.”
“Is everyone all right?” insisted the teacher.
“Everybody’s here,” replied Jim, who was keeping a close eye on Bernice, who seemed the most susceptible to the cold.
Ed pulled Janet to the rear of the bus.
“This thing is getting serious,” he whispered. “Some of the girls won’t be able to stand it until morning unless we’re able to keep them warmer. Jim and I have sheepskins. We’ll put them down on the floor and you girls get down and lie on them. Huddle together and cover up with your own coats. Your body heat should keep you warm and we’ll be moving around and talking to you so none of you will get too drowsy from the cold.”