The Bobbsey Twins at Cedar Camp

Chapter 12

Bert and Nan Bobbsey stood on the step of the log cabin, while Mrs. Bimby, the old woman, held open the door. The snow blew swirling in around her, and a wave of grateful warmth seemed to rush out as if to wrap itself around the cold twins. For a moment they stood there, and Bert was just beginning to wonder if the old woman was going to shut the door in the faces of his sister and himself.

Did you bring any news of Jim? asked old Mrs. Bimby.

Jim? repeated Bert.

Do you mean Jim Denton, the foreman at Cedar Camp? asked Nan.

No, child! I mean my JimJim Bimby. He went off to town just before this awful storm. But land sakes! here I am talking and keeping you out in the cold. Come in!

It was cold. Bert and Nan were beginning to feel that now, for the storm was growing worse, and it was now late afternoon. The sun was beginning to go down, though of course it could not be seen on account of the snow and clouds. The Bobbsey twins had wandered farther and longer than they had thought. But at last they had found a place of shelter.

Its just like me to keep you standing there while I talk, said Mrs. Bimby. Im sorry. But Im so worried about Jim that I reckon I dont know what Im doing. Come in and get warm, and Ill give you something to eat.

Weve got something to eat, thank you, said Nan. But we would like to get warm, and she followed Bert inside the log cabin, as Mrs. Bimby stepped aside to make room for them to enter.

Got something to eat, have you? questioned the old woman. Well, youre lucky, thats all Ive got to say. Ive only a little, but I expect Jim back any minute with more, though a dollar dont buy an awful lot these days.

Does Jim live here? asked Bert, as he walked over to a stove, in which a fire of wood was burning, sending out a grateful heat.

Of course he lives here, said Mrs. Bimby. Hes my husband. Hes a loggera lumberman.

Oh, maybe he works for my father! exclaimed Nan. Mr. Bobbsey, you know. He owns part of Cedar Camp.

No, I dont know him, said Mrs. Bimby, though Ive heard of Cedar Camp. They got a lot of Christmas trees out of there.

Thats what we came up about, explained Bert. Some Christmas trees my father bought to sell didnt come to Lakeport, and he came up here to see about them. We came with himand my mother and the other twins.

Good land! are there more of you? asked Mrs. Bimby in surprise. You two are twins, for a fact. But

Theres Flossie and Freddie, interrupted Nan. We left them back in camp while we went after chestnuts.

We got some, too, added Bert. But we sort of got lost in the storm. Do you spose your husband could take us back to Cedar Camp? he asked Mrs. Bimby. My father will pay him, he said, quickly, as he saw Mrs. Bimby shaking her head.

Maybe Mr. Bimby works at the sawmill, suggested Nan.

No, said the old woman, Jim is a logger and wood cutter, but he doesnt work at Cedar Camp. Thats too far off for him to go to and get back from.

Too far off! echoed Nan, and she began to have a funny feeling, as she told Bert afterward.

Yes, resumed Mrs. Bimby. Cedar Camp is away over on the other side of the hills. Youre a long way from home. You must have taken the wrong road in the storm.

II guess we did, admitted Bert. But couldnt your husband take us back?

Again Mrs. Bimby shook her head.

Jim, my husband, isnt home, she said. He went over to town just before the storm to get us something to eat. But now I dont see how hes going to get back, and she went to a window to look out at the storm.

It was getting much worse, as Bert and Nan could see. The wind howled around the corners of the log cabin of Jim Bimby, the logger, and the blast whistled down the chimney, even blowing sparks out around the door of the wood-burning stove.

Yes, its a bad storm, went on the old woman. I wish Jim was back, and with some victuals to eat. When you twins knocked I thought it was Jim. I wish hed come back, but hes an old man, and he may fall down in the snow and not be able to get up. He isnt as strong as he used to be. Im certainly worried about Jim!

Oh, maybe hell come along all right, said Nan, trying to be helpful and comforting.

If he doesnt pretty soon itll be night, and in all this storm he never can find his way after dark. But you children take your things off and sit up and have a cup of tea with me. Ive got some tea and condensed milk left, anyhow.

We cant take tea unless its very weak, said Nan, remembering her mothers rule in this respect.

All right, dearie, Ill make it weak for you twins, though I like it strong myself, said Mrs. Bimby. My, what a storm! What a storm! and she drew her shawl more closely around her shoulders as the wind howled down the chimney.

Bert and Nan took off their warm things, laying their packages of lunch and the bags of chestnuts on the table. Nan saw the old woman go to a closet, and the glimpse the Bobbsey girl had of the shelves showed her that they contained only a little food.

Bert and I have some of our lunch left, said Nan.

And you can have some, if you want to, went on Bert. We put up a pretty good lunch, and theres moren half of it left.

Bless your hearts, my dears, said Mrs. Bimby. I wouldnt take your lunch. Youll need it yourselves. Ive a little victuals left in the house, though if my Jim doesnt get back soon there wont be much for to-morrow. My, what a storm! What a storm!

The small log cabin seemed to shake and tremble in the wind, as though it would blow away. And the snow was now coming down so thickly that Bert and Nan could see only a short distance out of the window. There was little to see, anyhow, save trees and bushes, and these were fast becoming covered with snow.

Mrs. Bimby busied herself about the stove, putting the kettle on so she could make tea, and Bert and Nan watched her. The Bobbsey twins were wondering what would happen, how they could get home, and whether or not their father and mother would worry. Nan looked about the cabin. She did not see any beds, but a steep flight of stairs, leading up to what seemed to be a second story, might provide bedrooms, Nan thought. The cabin was clean and neat, and she was glad of that.

I do hope Jim comes, murmured Mrs. Bimby, as she poured the boiling water on the dry tea leaves in the pot. I do hope he isnt storm-bound!

Bert and Nan hoped the same thing, for, somehow, Bert thought if Mr. Bimby came along he would take the twins back to Cedar Camp.

Now sit up, dearies, and have some weak tea, and Ill take mine strong. I need it for my nerves, said the old woman.

And while Bert and Nan had thus found shelter from what turned out to be one of the worst storms ever remembered in the country around Cedar Camp, the other Bobbsey twins, Flossie and Freddie, were safe at home with their mother. Flossie was now cozy and warm after her dip into the water.

Theres your father! exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, as she heard someone stamping off the snow at the front door. I hope he has Bert and Nan with him.

But when Mr. Bobbsey came in alone and heard that the older twins had not come back from their nutting trip, a worried look came over his face.

Not back yet! he exclaimed. Why, its getting dark and the storm is growing worse! I must start out after them with some of the lumbermen. They must be lost!