two climb up and give me a hand. Better send Mollie up first, as the
ladder is a bit shaky till you know it, and Prue can hang on to it
below."

Mollie noticed then that a narrow green ladder leant up against the
smooth trunk; it looked as if an unwary step would send it flying,
and she put a reluctant foot on the lowest rung. The ground below
was hard and stony, most uninviting for a fall.

"You are quite safe so long as you push and don't pull," Prudence
assured her. "I am holding on here, and the ladder is firmer than it
looks."

Mollie mounted with gingerly tread, but reached the top safely and
crawled into the hut through the little door. She was quickly
followed by Prudence, and the two girls examined the interior with
interest. There was not very much room; two could sit down with
comfort, three would be slightly crowded, and four would be a tight
fit but not impossible.

"You won't be able to lay the carpet with all of us inside," said
Mollie, as she felt the big roll at her back.

"One of you had better stay out," said Hugh. "There are seats all
over the tree."

Mollie put her head out at the door and looked up into the branches.
They were very much forked, and upon every difficult branch Hugh had
nailed steps and made a railing. In some of the forks he had
inserted wooden seats, others he had left to nature. The topmost