"And so they are," declared Ruth, struggling to her feet. "We must
do something. A rousing fire against this rock will keep us warm. We
can heat the rock and then draw the fire out and get behind it. It
will be fine!"

"Oh, I can't move!" wailed Lluella.

"Luella doesn't want to work," said Madge. "But you get up and do
your share, Miss! If you freeze to death here your mother will never
forgive me."

Of course, it would be Heavy that got into trouble. She made a
misstep off the platform and sunk to her arm-pits in a soft bank of
snow, and it was all the others could do to pull her out. But this
warmed them, and actually got them to laughing.

"I believe that laughing warms one as much as anything," said Madge.

"Ha, ha!" croaked Heavy, grimly. "_Your_ laughing hasn't warmed _me_
any. I'm wet to my waist, I do believe!"

"We shall have to have a fire now to dry Jennie," said Ruth. "Now
take care."

They had all abandoned their snowshoes long since, and the
racquettes would have been of no use to them in the present
emergency, anyway. But Ruth and Madge got to the nearest tree, and
fortunately it was half dead. They could break off many of the
smaller branches, and soon brought to the platform a great armful of