They Found a Cave by Nan Chauncy Page A

are by the tarn, contentedly sitting down—sort of knitting and gossiping in the sun.’
    â€˜Good, but keep an eye on them. We are leaving this load and going back for the next, Tas and I. Will you help Brick haul it up Giant Steps?’
    After they had left Brick had a better plan, which he revealed as soon as they were out of sight. ‘Instead of climbing up, you and Nippy can pull the stuff into the cave with this rope.’ He threw a length at her, and after it had fallen twice on his own head she managed to catch it.
    â€˜Nippy’s going to help you,’ he called. ‘When I give the word, both of you pull. It’s better to die as a crane than a camel. N OW !’
    The bundles he tied on went easily enough until he risked a bag of flour, which split on the rock and the precious stuff began to leak out. The two above could not see what was happening until he shouted frantically. It then became a question of whether to pull up or let the bag slide down again—either way meant loss of flour.
    In the end they hauled it into the cave and Nippy slopped a tin of water down to wash away the crime. This it did not do, for it drove the flour into cracks, leaving runnels of white on the grey face of the rock.
    â€˜Never mind! The first shower will soon put that right,’ Brick called up cheerfully, little guessing the importance of the accident to them all later on.
    Everything had been hauled in and arranged neatly before Nigel and Tas returned with the second load. The cave began to look quite homelike; beds made up on the clean floor, rock shelves lined with newspaper and set out with milk pans and other gear, and a billy of water boiling beside the fire for tea.
    â€˜No milk yet, of course,’ Cherry apologized, tapping the billy in the way Tas showed her, to make the tea leaves settle.
    â€˜Who cares?’ cried Tas the Tasmanian, tossing off a mug of strong black liquid into which he had tipped half a handful of sugar. ‘Can you spare a second go?’ he asked, as he passed back his mug.
    â€˜Mustn’t rest too long,’ Nigel sighed. ‘There’s a lot of stuff still in the Tree, and Ma yelling for us all over the place. Soon he’ll get back and they’ll start a real search.’
    They gloated happily over the picture of Ma shouting for them in vain, and especially of when she should open the chaff-house door and find no Cherry inside.
    Brick joined the rather weary and reluctant party that turned downhill for the last load. Cherry was left to mind the cave and milk the goats, and to prepare a meal; and with her stayed Nippy. His only job, so he informed her, would be to see that Fluffles felt really comfortable and at home.
    â€˜And what about helping me ?’ Cherry demanded indignantly. ‘What about getting some wild cherry to feed the goats? And who’s to collect ferns and leaves for our mattresses, like Tas said? And to fetch firewood, and some dry bark to light the fire in the morning? Aren’t you going to do anything? ’
    â€˜No,’ replied Nippy calmly, ‘not till Fluffles settles in his new home. He’s tired, but he doesn’t understand where he is, yet.’ He had the impudence to add, grinning and stroking the ball of fur in his lap, ‘Fluffles may not feel like settling down till he tastes some warm goats’ milk.’
    â€˜You mean you want a drink yourself,’ Cherry fairly spluttered with rage. ‘Oh! If only Nig could hear you!’
    â€˜But as he can’t?’ returned Nippy gently.
    She flung across to the cave mouth and looked down, not really intending to call Nigel, but hoping to alarm Nippy. As she stared out over the bush, however, for some reason her anger quite suddenly left her. She drew in a deep breath, feeling calm and happy. Today of all days she simply could not bother fighting Nippy.
    Picking up the milk-pail she went quietly out to find her flock, cut them