r; and you will catch your death of cold
if you are not looked after immediately."

"But poor Terry will go out of his mind if he supposes that I am lost,"
argued D'Arcy.

"We will try to let him know," said Philip. "Besides, at our place, if
we go on, they will not know whether we are all lost, or you are saved."

This settled the question. "There, lie down at the bottom, and we will
cover you up with our jackets," said Philip. "Give way, Harry."

To paddle back in the teeth of the freezing wind was no easy work, and
more than once Philip wished that, for his friend's sake, he had gone on
to his clearing; still, he guessed rightly, that every means to prevent
injurious effects would be got ready. Manfully they paddled on, but the
spray from the small but quick-coming waves dashed in their faces, and
the slightest cessation of exertion allowed the light canoe to be blown
back again like a feather before the breeze. Nobly they persevered.
Once under the lee of the land, they knew that their progress would be
more rapid. At last they caught sight of their own landing-place.
Philip gave a flourish with his paddle, and pointed to the bottom of the
canoe. The communication was understood, and a door, with blankets,
were ready to carry D'Arcy up to the house. He begged, however, to be
allowed to walk up, declaring that he was well able to do so, though he
did not object to having a couple of blankets thrown over his shoulders.
He found, however, that he had miscalculated his strength, and without
help he could scarcely move. The next morning the effects of the
wetting and exposure were more conspicuous, and all the skill of Nurse
Summers was required to bring him round. For several days he was kept
in bed, and even when he was able to get up, the Ashtons would not let
him leave them. "You are utterly unfit for work, my dear fellow," said
Philip. "You will get well here much faster than sitting over the fire
in your own shanty, and leave Terry more at liberty to go on with your
house. He is contented enough now he knows we have you in safe
keeping."

It was wonderful with what equanimity Mr D'Arcy consented to remain the
guest of the Ashtons. He was not idle, for he read while the ladies
worked, taught Charley to net, and took Philip's place as his
schoolmaster in the evening, and imparted a large stock of
backwoodsman's lore to all the family. Philip and Harry had, directly
they returned after rescuing him