But it was hard to talk when there was nothing pleasant in
their thoughts, and they were so cold, so very cold.
Presently Elsie's head fell over on Dexie's shoulder, and it aroused Dexie
to a sense of their danger. Was she really falling asleep, and allowing
Elsie to do so as well, after the caution Lancy had given? She lifted
Elsie's head gently, saying, "Sit up, Elsie, dear. I'm afraid you are
getting sleepy, and you must not go to sleep, you know."
"Oh, do--leave me--alone! I'm--so tired."
"But I can't leave you, Elsie; you are getting sleepy, and don't you
remember what Lancy said?" and Dexie lifted her up and gave her a gentle
shake.
"Oh, do stop--just a moment."
"No, not a moment!"
Dexie was fully aroused now, and realized Elsie's danger.
"Come, Elsie, you must sit up, for I do not intend to let you sleep;" and
she shook her roughly in her alarm, for Elsie had laid her head on the
seat, in spite of all her efforts to arouse her.
"Here, if you don't lift up your head and wake up, I'll have to rub your
face with snow; so sit up at once. Oh! do, Elsie, dear."
Elsie allowed herself to be lifted into another position, but she seemed
dazed, and Dexie was thoroughly frightened and shook her by the arm, as she
cried, "Oh, Elsie, can't you hear me? Don't you know that if you fall
asleep you will surely freeze to death?"
"Oh, Dexie, I'm freezing now," was the low reply.
Pages:
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67