The children were still delirious and Elfreda said that their temperature seemed to be rising. She decided to give them a sponge bath. This occupied some time, but it had the effect of reducing their temperatures somewhat. Julie watched every movement of the Overland nurses, following them with eyes in which wonder was not unmixed with admiration, but Mrs. Thompson seemed helpless to do or think, and sat regarding them with expressionless eyes, now and then heaving a troubled sigh. Along towards morning the children ceased their babbling and sank into an uneasy sleep. The mother, soon after, dozed off in her chair. "Julie, get some water and soap and help us clean this place. It's a fright," declared Miss Briggs. This Julie did, so far as getting the water was concerned, but she took so little interest in scrubbing the floor that Grace and Elfreda were obliged to take that task into their own hands. They were down on their knees scrubbing away, when Mrs. Thompson awakened. "What you-all doin'?" she demanded blinkingly. "Cleaning house," replied Elfreda briefly. "'Tain't no use. It'll git dirty ag'in. Ah reckon Jed won't like it, neither." "We don't care whether Jed likes it or not," retorted Grace. "Leave him to us, Mrs. Thompson." Early in the morning Grace and Elfreda went out to the barn to see how it had fared with their friends. They were a "frowzy lot," as Miss Briggs characterized their appearance. Their heads were full of hay, their eyes were red, and their faces showed much loss of sleep. "You folks go down to the brook and wash, and by the time you return we shall have breakfast cooked for you," offered Elfreda. The breakfast they cooked on Mrs. Thompson's stove, but in the Overlanders' utensils. Nor would they permit any of the girls to come into the house for the food. Handing the breakfast out to the eagerly waiting hands of their companions, Grace and Miss Briggs soon followed and joined the girls at breakfast in the open. It was not a particularly enjoyable meal. Not once during the breakfast had one mentioned Hippy Wingate and his mission, and it was not until they had finished and sat back that Nora broached the subject. "When should Hippy be back?" she asked. "If he found the doctor at once he should have been here two or three hours ago," replied Grace. "Don't get excited, Nora," begged Elfreda, as Nora's face paled ever so little. "A number of things may have occurred to detain him. Hippy is not one to be beaten when he starts out with a definite purpose in view." "Especially when I am con-centrating on him," spoke up Emma. This brought a laugh and put all the girls in instant good humor. They were interrupted by Julie who came out rubbing her eyes, after a few hours' sleep on a blanket on the floor of the cabin. "Maw wants to know what she'll give Sue and Liz fer breakfast?" she asked.