igs and little bits of wood from
those bushes just over the hill," said Nealie. "We shall all feel better
for having something warm to eat, as the weather is so uncomfortable
this morning, and while they are looking after the fire we three can
clear the things from the wagon in readiness for having it set right way
up once more. Never, never will I be so careless again as to leave it
standing on a slope at night!"

"I should not grieve overmuch about that if I were you, for I fancy the
wagon being on its side last night saved us from things more unpleasant
still," replied Rupert; and then Nealie shivered and said no more about
regretting her carelessness, which, after all, had not been so much
carelessness as overcarefulness, because she had been so anxious that
they should be stationed where the wind would not trouble them.

By the time Ducky and the boys had got a fire going, and the porridge--a
kind of mush--safely on in course of preparation, the three elders had
got the wagon cleared of all it contained and were ready to do their
best to get it on its feet, or rather on its wheels again. But without
Rockefeller to help this appeared to be a task quite beyond their power
to accomplish, although they tugged and tugged with all their might.

"Whatever shall we do?" cried Sylvia in despair. "If only Rumple would
come back with the horse we might manage it."

"I know," said Nealie, and, struck with a sudden bright idea, she rushed
off to the heap of properties lying at a little distance, and selecting
a stout iron bar which had been used as a stay for the rack at the back
of the wagon she came running back with it.

"What are you going to do now?" asked Rupert curiously, failing to see
what possible help the iron bar could be to them.

"I am going to use the bar as a lever and jack the wagon up. You see, we
can lift it a little piece and poke something under; there are plenty of
big stones and boulders lying about that will do, and if we lift it a
few feet we may then be able to drag it over; at least we can try that
plan, and if it does no other good it will keep us warm, and I am most
dreadfully chilly," said Nealie, who was secretly very anxious lest
Rupert should get a chill in the cold wind, and was also weatherwise
enough to know that it might rain at any minute now.

"The mush is ready; will you have breakfast first?" called Don, who was
cook-in-chief, while the others ran hither and thither doing his
bidd