"Only since the day we heard you and another talk of coming here to get wood for to-day. Since then we've worked pretty steady," said the girl, with a weary smile. "Hear this, Hugh, will you!" cried Douglas. "They overheard Eugene and me planning to come here, and we're taking their wood." "Oh no, you're not," said the girl, quickly. "It's nobody's but those as gets it." "Of course, Dug," frowned Hugh, impatiently. "Don't stand talking there. Come on and fill, can't you. They've probably their wood-house crammed by this time, anyway." "Oh no," said the girl, turning to Hugh. "It's so far, sir. We can't lug more nor ten baskets a day." "Far!--where?" still questioned Douglas, as Hugh went to work again. "You'll see when the fog lifts. The red cottage by the brook." "What! not 'way down by the mill?" "Yes, sir," said the girl, as she shook the basket, and piled some more chips on top. "Come, Dick, this is your side," and off they started in the light rain that was beginning to fall. "Poor little things," said Douglas, "I haven't the heart to take their wood," and he threw some chips indifferently into the cart. "Oh, Hugh, I've a plan," and his face lit up. "Let's give 'em a lift--this cartful; will you?" Hugh deliberated. It was raining. The bonfire might as well be given up. As the cart was filled, the mill children might as well have it. He only wished it had been his plan instead of Douglas's. It seemed but an instant later that the chips were shaking merrily in the cart, as the boys started to overtake the little laborers; and they were not entirely quieted when both children were carefully lifted to a seat and told to hold on firmly. "Ain't it splendid!" whispered Dick Ransom, loudly, to his sister. "Now I can play on me bones and hunt fire-crackers all day; can't I, Jinny?" almost losing his hold in delight at thought of a holiday. "Oh, _ain't_ it splendid! We're 'goin' as fast as Dr. Phisterer, ain't we, sis?" Jenny smiled. "Won't granny be pleased?" was all she said, while the chips seemed to dance again at her thought. As you may have guessed, more than one load found its way to the red cottage that morning. Three times did the Oliver boys heap the cart, and three times did little Dick Ransom fancy he was Dr. Phisterer as he sat perched up on the chips, having the best Fourth of July he had ever known. As the Oliver family was breakfasting it commenced to rain hard. "The day is going to be a perfect fizzle," announced Hugh. "It'll be no fun staying out; besides, nothing will go off. Imagine being cooped in the house all day!" The twins looked disconsolate. "Cheer up," said Douglas. "We can put off some torpedoes in the attic if it comes to the worst; and, best of all, we'll be back with the two Wills in less than no time, and they always think up something." The boys were at the station soon after, Hugh keeping two bombshells in readiness to be fired the moment the two Wills got off the train.