"What is there to be afraid of? The burros and horses won't hurt you,
and they are too weary with this day's troubles to bother about kicking
or trampling you. However, you can do this, if you like, and I will
make up the beds for the beasts."
The spruce beds were being made--Anne showing Barbara how to lay the
tips in rows as wide as the bed was to be, then folding under the
sticks of the second row to run under the tips of the first row, and so
on, until the length of the bed was made.
This work finished, and the bedding for the horses arranged in the
"fingers" as Polly had directed, the two girls stood near the entrance
of the cave, wondering what possibly could have happened to keep Polly
and Eleanor so long.
"I just felt in my bones that it was an awful risk to go into the black
hole of the unknown!" cried Barbara.
"It isn't that that bothers me at all, Bob. But Polly has no sense of
fear, and I think they may have found an exit at the other end, so
Polly is coming around that way. It is a hazardous thing to do, in this
storm!" said Anne.
"Anne, can't you try to squeeze in there and see what has happened?"
asked Barbara.
Anne looked at her without saying a word, so Barbara thought she
hesitated on account of leaving her alone in the cave.
"I won't mind staying alone for a little time. I'll watch the fires and
see that the horses do not get away!" said Barbara.
"Really!" was all Anne said, as she turned to place another pine knot
on the fire.
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