Part 4 (2/2)

CHAPTER V

LOST IN THE FOREST

Morning caht no news of the absent men There now seemed to be no possible doubt that some accident of a serious nature had overtaken both, and the boys were at their wits' end to knohat steps to take

There had been but one canoe for the outing, so it was not possible to follow up the river course in pursuit of explanation The only course was to take the journey on foot That would be a tedious process, seeing that the river twined in soht be walked, and yet only half the distance ht be covered as the crow flies However, there see else to be done It was iht turn up

Meantiht only increase the necessity

”I vote we pack up our outfit in the tents and set off on the chance of finding their tracks,” said Bob ”We can take a good supply of cartridges with us, in case we are delayed and need to forage for food”

”It'sway,” was Holden's view ”It would be as well to take a s A pannikin would be useful----”

”And a so far in the bush without finding a use for rope”

”But suppose they coht of,” Arnold agreed ”Itout to hunt for us We'll leave a note explaining things”

As soon as breakfast was over, the boys made their preparations for departure They filled knapsacks with such supplies as they deeencies They packed away the loose articles of the caainst the flap of the tent to explain the cause of their absence to any person who round before their return Then they set out bravely on their quest

It was their first intention to follow the course of the river, even though their journey thened thereby But very soon it was found that such tactics were, in the main, impracticable In some parts the banks were steep and rocky; in others they were so thickly clothed with bush that a pathas only possible after the axe had cut its way The latter was particularly the case when a certain great bend of the Athabasca was reached, so the chuing straight through the forest

”It see about due north, I think The bend goes due west, but as theto the ain”

”Right, old man,” responded Bob ”In any case, the paters could not be so near hoet back, even by crawling So it would be ale so far out of the way”

It is one thing to say ”go north,” it is quite another matter to hold a steady course in a forest The Indian can do it; likewise the trapper

They know the signs of the compass such as Nature has provided for them They knohich side of the trees certain ns that the blizzard wind leaves behind it when it has passed on its way froher mysteries of woodcraft from their earliest years, a due course to any set point of the compass is second nature But those who are unlearned in the art soon find out their mistake when they put their inexperience into practice The sun is a pointing finger to the craftsnorant

Bob and Alf pursued their way pluckily Determined to keep a steady course, the tomahawk had to be requisitioned at frequent intervals in order to clear a passage through the thorns and binding creepers that impeded the way

At any other tiht, for ould not have enjoyed exploring unknown land--probably land, too, where only the Indian's foot and the feet of the wild creatures of the forest had ever pressed?

Once or twice the boys saw the great velvet eyes of an antelope peeping at theain the scrub would rustle, as a fox crouched down to hide his skulking body fro their sadthe maple leaves, and lively little chip to their friends as they started before the advance of the young explorers Yes, it was an experience to fill the heart with joy when any ordinary call inspired the venture spirit

On this occasion, however, neither of the boys had eyes for such pleasant sights, or ears for such sounds as are the delight of the trapper's life Their minds were too full of anxiety to permit room for ordinary enjoyle file

In this way they continued for two hours or more At intervals they would take it in turn to act as leader and handle the axe; but they did not allow a pause in the pushi+ng forward, until at last Bob called a halt, feeling that a rest had been earned

”We ought to be getting near the river again by this ti,” said Alf ”You see, it was such a sharp ard turn that the river took after we crossed the ford, that I don't think we can be far off now It ain”

”Yet there's no sound of it----”

”That is what's puzzling me We've covered a couple of h work for four,” added Bob ”However, let's get to work again The sooner there, the sooner this job will be over”