Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/213

 Dick, “but we can mend that easily enough.”

“And we can block up the store room door,” said Hugh. “We’ll nail the whole thing over with boards to keep the cold out.”

They were quiet again—but at last Dick burst out:

“Hugh, do you realize that our supplies are burned, the shed and everything in it? That we haven’t one thing left to eat?”

“I know it,” replied Hugh soberly. “I—I’ve been thinking about just that thing for the last  hour.”

“They must have meant to do it all along,” observed Dick. “They drove off Hulda just for a blind. Oh, that Jake, that skulking blackguard!”

“Oscar said they would choose the mean, crooked way,” Hugh agreed. “He told me they would try some trick or other. I wish we could have guessed beforehand.”

“But Oscar will be back soon,” insisted Dick eagerly. “He must be back soon. Gee, it’s cold!”