NUTS
With her usual compliance, Jean consented to go to call upon her
grandmother though Mary Lee obstinately refused to make any overtures.
Children often have very strong prejudices and are even more determined
in their refusal to give them up than are their elders. Mary Lee felt
quite virtuous in her decision not to make friends with her relatives
and often berated Nan for having no backbone and for influencing Jack.
Jean, however, had been won over by her twin who descanted upon the
deliciousness of the refreshments offered her and upon the pretty
things their grandmother might give them.
"You see," said Jack to Jean in arguing the matter, "we must be polite
to our elders, Aunt Sarah says, and I think we ought to be very, very
nice to our grandmother because she is old. I shouldn't wonder if she
were the oldest person we know."
"Not as old as Unc' Landy," said Jean.
"No, of course not; he is older than anybody, but he doesn't count,"
returned Jack.
"I think we might take grandmother one of the kittens," said Jean with
sudden inspiration. Lady Gray had recently given them the surprise of
a family of four lovely kittens. Aunt Sarah had said most positively
that they could keep only one, although they had all insisted that one
apiece would exactly agree to the number, but Aunt Sarah was firm and
the two elder girls had given way to the younger ones who had each
selected the one she preferred and now it was a matter of continual
dispute as to which was to be finally kept. A third kitten was promised
to Phil, and Mitty had declared that she knew of a good home for the
fourth.
"You see," said Jean, "if the kitten lived at Uplands we could see it
often. We could even borrow it sometimes to play with ours."
"We'll take them both over," decided Jack, "and let her choose one,
then we won't have to quarrel any more over them, for that will settle
it."
They started off each with a wee, mewing kitten, and were duly
announced as Miss Jacqueline and Miss Jean Corner, though this time
their Aunt Helen was at home and they were not ushered into the
drawing-room but into the library, and from thence were conducted
up-stairs to their grandmother's room.
"Well, young ladies," said Mrs. Corner, "I am glad to see you. So this
is Jean. She looks more like the Lees than Nancy and Jack. What have
you there, my dears?"
"We have brought you a kitten," spoke up Jack. "We brought two so you
could take your choice, for it is really very hard to tell which of
them all is the prettiest. We let Phil take his choice first and we
left the ugliest for Mitty, though that one is really very pretty, but
not quite so lovely as these."
"It is very kind of you to want me to have the best," said Mrs. Corner.
"Which do you consider the prettier?"
"I like this one," said Jack, displaying a furry gray ball from which
issued a protesting mew as Jack held it up.
"And I like this," said Jean, more discreetly holding her kitten in her
lap. "It has white feet and a white shirt front. Jack's is all gray.
Mine is named Rubaiyat; we call it Ruby."
"And mine," said Jack gravely, "is Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. It's a Bible
name. Baz ought to be very good."
"What extraordinary names!" exclaimed Mrs. Corner.
"Ruby is named after the 'Rubaiyat of a Persian Kitten,' for Lady
Gray is a Persian, you know. Ran named them and he said we could call
Jean's, Ruby, and mine Baz. He says that Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz just
suits a cat for he found out what it means and it means 'the spoil
hastens; the prey speeds.'"
"Helen, did you ever know such droll children?" said Mrs. Corner
laughing.
"Would you like to look at them closer?" said Jack. "Their claws are
very briery like blackberry bushes, but they really don't scratch
unless you don't know how to hold them. I'll put them in your lap and
you can see how sweet and dear they are."
"They certainly are beauties," said Mrs. Corner, admiringly. "Don't you
think we would enjoy having one, Helen?"
"Most decidedly," said Miss Helen, "and of the two I think
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz charms me the most. He is a darling."
Jack gave a long sigh. "I just knew you'd say that."
"Would you rather keep this one, then?" asked Miss Helen.
"Oh, yes," said Jack.
"Oh, no," said Jean.
The ladies laughed. "Then suppose you don't give either away," said
Mrs. Corner.
"We can't keep but one, you know. Aunt Sarah said so," Jean told them.
"And we'd rather you'd have one than anybody."
"Then we'll take the gray one gladly and are very much obliged to you
for thinking of bringing us such a beautiful and valuable pet," Mrs.
Corner told them. "Haven't we some cake or something for these little
girls, Helen?" she asked.
Miss Helen thought so and they were presently regaled upon delicious
cake and some sort of curious drink that tasted like currant jelly and
mint. It was a beautiful red color and Jack thought it was better than
the pink lemonade at the County Fair.
While they were eating and drinking, Miss Helen left them to bring back
to each some odd little green dishes which she said she had found in
Holland. The children were delighted with the curiously shaped pots and
pans, the pitchers and tea-pots, and bore them off in triumph, Jack
feeling less regret at leaving her kitten since in return she had these
queer little dishes.
She displayed them in high glee to Nan who was surprised and pleased
that such an interest had been shown in her little sisters. If only
Mary Lee would not be so offish, all might be pleasant between the
two households, she thought, and--though this she only secretly
admitted--they might still share the delights of those beautiful
withheld gifts.
Place o' Pines was too chilly a spot to be visited these November days,
but the woods up the mountainside attracted both girls and boys one
Saturday afternoon after the first frost, for Phil and Mary Lee knew
a place where nuts were plentiful, so they all piled into the Lewis's
carryall and went to where the road ended, fastening the horses there
and going the rest of the way on foot. It was wildly beautiful in this
mountain forest. The distant call of a bird, the rustle of leaves as
some creature of the woods sped from sight, or the trickle of some
little mountain brook was all that could be heard until the merry
laughter of the young people rang out upon the air.
Nan sat down upon a log and was soon lost in a dream. The boys fell to
gathering nuts; Jack and Jean ran here and there excited by the freedom
and wildness of the spot; Phil and Mary Lee soon discovered a mutual
interest in the lair of a Molly Cotton-Tail and her babies and next
gave chase to a squirrel.
"We might find out where he lives," said Phil. "I'd like to get a
young one and train him. There he goes, Mary Lee. Come on," and Mary
Lee followed over fallen logs, through heaps of dead leaves and broken
branches till finally Master Squirrel was lost from view and they were
a long distance from where they started.
Meanwhile several bags of nuts were stowed away under the seat of the
carryall and Randolph discovered that it was time to start back. "The
days are so short," he said, "that we haven't time to more than get
back before dark. Call them all in, Ashby."
Ashby gave a long mountain call. Jack and Jean came running and Nan
appeared from where she had been picking up a last hoard of nuts.
"Where are the others?" asked Ran.
"Don't know," returned Nan.
"I saw them go off that way." Jack waved her hand toward the west.
Ran went a short distance and gave the call. Then he waited. There
was utter silence save for the trickling of the little stream. Again
he called but there was no response. "Where can they be?" he said
impatiently. "They ought to know better than to act so. I suppose they
think it is funny to pretend they don't hear." But in a little while,
he feared that it was not pretense, and that they were really not
only out of sight but out of hearing. He did not voice his alarm to
the girls, however, but, after whistling softly for a few minutes, he
walked away, calling to his brother.
"See here, Ashby," he said, "I'm afraid those two have strayed away and
have lost their bearings. Because they have been up here a number of
times, they think they can find their way anywhere. Now, don't express
any surprise when I propose that you drive the others home. I'm going
to stay here and you go back and tell Colonel Lewis what I fear. Get
fresh horses and come back. I'll wait here in case Phil and Mary Lee
find their way back. It will be all right."
Ashby agreed and the two came back to where the others were waiting.
"Phil's playing us a nice trick," said Ran in assumed contempt, "and
it's time you girls were starting home. I'm going to send you back with
Ashby and I'll wait here for the others. I'll hide so they can't see
me. Won't they be good and scared?"
"But how will you all get back?" asked Nan.
"Oh, Ashby's coming back for us. It isn't much of a drive and Miss
Sarah will be worrying. As soon as it gets a little darker, Phil and
Mary Lee will hurry out to the road fast enough."
"You don't----" Nan glanced at the twins who had clambered into the
carriage. "You don't think," she repeated in a low whisper, "that they
could be lost."
"Nonsense," returned Ran. "They'll be here in a minute, only it isn't
worth while to wait for them and they deserve a good scare."
Nan looked at him steadily. She was not quite sure that he was not
alarmed for the safety of the missing two, but he smiled confidently.
"It's all right," he insisted.
"If you stay, I will," said Nan decidedly.
"No, you mustn't," returned Ran.
"Why not?"
"I don't want you," he answered bluntly.
"Oh, well then," said Nan, somewhat offended, "of course, I'll not
stay, but I must say you're polite."
Ran turned away. He had gained his point at the risk of being rude, but
that was of little moment just then. He could make his apologies later.
And so the three girls drove off with Ashby as attendant and left
Randolph to keep a lonely watch on the mountain.
Aunt Sarah was on the lookout for the nutting party. "Where are the
others?" was her first question.
Nan explained. "Ran thought we'd better come on," she said. "He's
waiting for Phil and Mary Lee. Ashby is going back for them."
"Gracious!" exclaimed Aunt Sarah and sought out Ashby.
When she returned Nan was quick to read the anxiety in her face. "You
don't think they could really be lost," she said in alarm.
"We'll wait and see," returned Aunt Sarah in her most non-committal
manner.
But as the hours wore on, she made no secret of her fears. Jean went to
bed weeping. Jack's eyes had a scared look in them. Just suppose there
should be bears and wildcats in the woods. She put her question to Nan.
"Aren't there wild animals on the mountain?" she asked. "Landy says so."
"Of course, there are wild animals; foxes and rabbits and chipmunks,"
Nan answered lightly, trying to allay her fears.
"I don't mean those. I mean real tearing, scratching, eating animals,"
said Jack.
"Oh, I don't know, I don't know," returned Nan, ready to break down
herself. "Don't think about it, Jack. Go to sleep and in the morning
you will see Mary Lee safe and sound in bed asleep."
"Please stay with me then till I go to sleep," said Jack. "I see all
sorts of things in the dark." And Nan stayed.
About nine o'clock Aunt Sarah put on her wraps. "I'm going over to
Mag's," she said. "I can't stand this."
"Please let me go, too," pleaded Nan.
Aunt Sarah waited a moment before she consented, and the two set off
together, leaving Mitty and Unc' Landy to keep a sleepy watch in the
kitchen.
Meanwhile, night had descended upon the mountain. Feeling that danger
actually threatened his little son, Colonel Lewis provided himself with
lanterns, warm wraps, food and a bottle of spirits, and then started
with Ashby to the spot where Ran waited.
It was dark by the time the carriage appeared and Ran called out: "That
you, Ashby?"
"Colonel Lewis and I," replied Ashby. "Are you all there, Ran?"
"I'm all here, but nobody else," returned Ran not meaning to be jocular.
"They haven't come?" Colonel Lewis asked making his way quickly to the
spot.
"No, sir. Don't you think it would be a good plan to build a fire? They
might see it, or they might see the smoke."
"If there is no danger of the woods catching we can do it."
"There's a big rocky place further on where I think it would be safe,"
Ran told him. "I have kept up a constant calling, but haven't heard a
sound except from an owl."
To build the fire was the first step and Ashby was left to watch it
while the other two set out, lanterns in hand, taking the direction in
which the wanderers had disappeared. "I always carry a small compass,"
said Colonel Lewis, "and I have hunted in these mountains since I was a
boy. We'll keep an eye on the smoke and then if we can only find those
children, I shall have no fears about our getting back to the fire.
You're not afraid, Ashby?" he called back.
"No, sir," came the prompt reply.
"Keep up a good fire and a good heart," called Ran.
"All right, I will," and little Ashby had his turn of loneliness. It
must be confessed that he did feel a sinking of heart as he saw the two
disappear into the darkness of the forest.
Darker, more lonesome, more awful did that forest seem to the two
children who, wearied at last from unsuccessful attempts to find their
way back, sat down upon a log to rest. "It's no use trying any more,"
said Phil. "We're tuckered out and we can't see a yard ahead of us
anyhow. It wasn't right for me to bring you way off here, Mary Lee, and
I wish I hadn't done it."
"It wasn't your fault any more than mine," said she. "We both started
to follow the squirrel."
"Yes, but I said I wanted to try to catch a young one, and so you went
to accommodate me. If I hadn't said that you wouldn't have gone."
"We might have gone after something else just the same," said the girl.
"It is awfully dark, isn't it, Phil?"
"Father always carries a compass." Phil was busy with his own thoughts.
"I wish we knew the direction we came, then I could find the North star
and go by that."
"But we can scarcely see the stars in here."
"Anyhow I ought to have noticed the direction. Father says that is what
one ought always to do when he is in a strange place, especially in the
woods."
"It's getting very cold," said Mary Lee, plaintively. "Do you suppose
we could kindle a fire by rubbing two sticks together as the Indians
do?"
"It wouldn't do to have a fire here if we had matches. We might set the
woods on fire. We ought to get out into some open place to do that."
"Couldn't we find one?"
"It's warmer here, more sheltered, you know. Are you very cold, Mary
Lee? Take my coat."
"I'll do no such thing," Mary Lee refused determinedly. "It's no colder
for me than for you."
"Then let's sit close." So the two cousins snuggled together, each
feeling comfort from the nearness of the other.
"I wish we had something to eat," sighed Mary Lee after a silence. "It
will be a long time before morning. Shall you dare to go to sleep,
Phil?"
"I--don't know."
"Do you suppose they will try to find us?"
"My father will, I know."
"What are you thinking about?" said Mary Lee after another long pause.
"I'm trying to puzzle out about directions. Of course, the mountain is
west of the town, for the sun sets behind it, so we ought to go east to
get back, and we must go down-hill instead of up."
"But we might go down-hill and go north or south."
"When the sun rises, we can see that and travel toward the east."
"We can do that unless----" Mary Lee's courage was beginning to ooze
out and she gave a little frightened sob.
"What, Mary Lee?" Phil began to stroke her hand in boyish fashion.
"Unless the bears or wildcats get us before then," she sobbed outright.
Phil had thought of this, but had not mentioned it. "They shall not get
us," he declared. "They are not going to. Father will find us before
long."
"How can he?"
"He can, and he will," said Phil confidently. "Father can do anything
he sets out to do."
This was somewhat comforting, though it did not keep out the cold which
was growing more and more evident every moment and presently both
children were shivering.
"Do you suppose," said Mary Lee, "that if we covered ourselves with
leaves like the Babes in the Woods that we would be warmer?"
"We might try it," said Phil. "The leaves are good and dry and there
are lots around us right here."
They began to feel around them and to scrape up the fallen leaves, the
exercise helping them to keep warm. They kept close together, fearing
lest one should be separated from the other and not be able to find the
way back. They sat down in their nest of leaves and pulled them high
around them.
"I know now how the woodsy things feel," said Mary Lee, cheered by the
warmth. "They sleep under a blanket of leaves all winter and peep out
again in the spring. I'm getting sleepy, Phil." She rested her head
against the log and was soon asleep.
Phil piled the leaves over her till she was almost hidden by them, but
for him there was no sleep, for afar off the wailing cry of a wildcat
he heard and recognized. Presently, it sounded nearer and the boy in
terror, crouched down in the leaves by his sleeping companion.
[Illustration: CHAPTER XIII
TROUBLE FINDS THEM]