I fear it is ruined." "Set the girls at it with dry leaves.

They can wipe it dry and the exercise will do them good," suggested Jane McCarthy.
"Fine! Come!" The stove was carried out to the beach and stood up.

Jane and Harriet gathered leaves from weeds and bushes, together with such dry grass as they were able to find in the darkness, heaping their plunder on the canvas and directing the girls to polish the stove, hoping thereby to keep it from rusting very badly.

The occupation did Tommy, Hazel and Margery good.

They almost forgot their troubles for the time being.
The bedding and the clothing were next carried out and spread on the ground to dry.