as well as the seven of us," said Rupert, and then he called out
that Rumple was asleep. The first paragraph of the projected History of
Sydney had been too much for the aspiring young author, who was snoring
with his nose on the grubby little notebook.

"We cannot carry him to bed, and I am afraid that the waiters will form
a very poor opinion of us if we ask them to do it, so we must wake him
if we can," said Sylvia, jumping up and starting on a vigorous shaking
of her younger brother.

"It is of no use, dear; he will not wake up, and you and I must just
drag him into his room as best we can," said Nealie, interposing to
prevent Rumple from being shaken and bumped any more.

"What a set of children ours are!" cried Sylvia impatiently. "If once
they drop asleep there never seems any possibility of waking them before
the next morning."

"It is not more than a year ago that Mrs. Puffin and I carried you up to
bed one night when you had fallen asleep downstairs," replied Nealie,
with a laugh. "I remember that we stuck fast in the narrow part just
outside Aunt Judith's door, and we could not get up or down; indeed it
looked not improbable that we might have to leave you there until
morning, climbing over your sleeping form every time we wanted to pass
up or down. Then Mrs. Puffin had a happy inspiration, and, acting upon
it, we slid a sheet under you, and, Rupert coming to our help, we
dragged you up the last four steps by sheer force of arm."

"I remember it," laughed Sylvia. "That was the time when I dreamed that
I was tobogganing down the Rocky Mountains, and when I woke up next
morning, and found how badly I was bruised, I thought that it really
must be true, and no dream at all. How shall we carry him, Nealie? Will
it be easier to join hands under him, or to haul him out feet first?"

"Feet first, I think," she answered. "It is not safe to join hands under
sleeping persons, because you have no hand free to catch them if they
sway. If you will carry his feet, I will take his shoulders, and we will
soon have him on his bed. Then I think we had better go to bed also, for
it would be tragic if we fell asleep; we should have to stay where we
are all night, because there is no one strong enough to carry us;" and
Nealie's laugh rang out, as if she had not a care in the world, and was
promptly echoed by Rupert and Sylvia.

CHAPTER VII

The One-armed Man

The seven had hardly finished breakfast next morning w