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Murchiston, the lady who had been the twins' governess when they were small, and several servants, the party were to take train at Cheslow the next day for the northern wilderness. The trio of friends, as they hurried across Hiram Bassett's pasture, were full of happy anticipations regarding the proposed trip, and they chatted merrily as they went on.
The stop at this town was brief; then the train sped on through the deep woods. But suddenly the airbrakes were put on again and they slowed down with a good deal of clatter and bumping. "We're not at Scarboro yet, surely?" cried Mrs. Murchiston. "No, no!" Mr. Cameron assured them. "We're stopping from some other cause why, this is merely a flag station. Not even a station just a crossing."
"I shan't feel safe for them again until we get out of these woods." "Why, Mis' Murchiston," drawled Long Jerry, who had come into the hall with a great armful of wood, "there ain't a mite of danger now. That panther's killed deader'n last Thanksgivin's turkey. There may not be another around here for half a score of years." "But they say there are bears in the woods," cried the governess.
Helen Cameron had been used to having her own way a good deal. Being naturally a sweet-tempered girl, she was not much spoiled. But Mrs. Murchiston had been unable to be very strict with the twins when Mr. Cameron was so indulgent himself. Mary Cox and "Heavy" Stone were waiting on the steps for the friends as they came out.
"Come! we'll go out and see about this at once," cried his father, and began to get into his out-of-door clothing, including a pair of great boots. "Is it snowing very hard, Tom?" queried the lady, anxiously. "What makes you look so?" For Tom was scared and he showed it. He turned short around without answering Mrs. Murchiston again, and led the way to the kitchen.
After they were between the sheets Helen crept over to Ruth and hid her face upon her chum's shoulder, where she cried a few tears. "All my pretty frocks that Mrs. Murchiston allowed me to pick out! And my books! And and " The tragic voice of Jennie Stone reached their ears: "Oh, girls! I've lost in the dreadful fire the only belt I could wear. It's a forty-two."
Murchiston remained in town as long as Ruth did and brought her back with them. Ruth had time to run in and see Mercy Curtis. "I'm coming out to the Red Mill, so now!" declared the lame girl. "I asked Doctor Davison, and he says yes. And if he says so, that uncle of yours, Dusty Miller, will have to let me. Folks have to do as Doctor Davison says, you know.
"Oh, I'll borrow a shirt, if I need one," declared Master Tom, grinning. "Uncle Ike's Benjy is about my size, you know. What's the use of carting around so much stuff?" "I notice you have your bag full of trash," sniffed Helen. "It can plainly be seen that Mrs. Murchiston was called away so suddenly that she could not oversee our packing."
In places the snow was heaped fifteen feet high; but the men shuffled off over these drifts and back again as easily as they would have walked on six inches of snow. They brought with them six other men, who also sat down to breakfast in the big kitchen, while Mr. Cameron and the boys and Mrs. Murchiston finished their meal in the dining-room.
Ruth had never seen Cheslow save on the night of her arrival and on the following morning, when she had started directly after breakfast at the station master's house to walk to the Red Mill. "Why, you'll like Cheslow," declared Helen, in her enthusiastic way. "It's just as pretty as it can be you'll love it! I often drive in to shop, and sometimes Mrs. Murchiston goes with me. Get up, Tubby!"
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