Part 5 (1/2)
”Thank goodness it looks pretty clear ahead now--more pine trees and less of the beastly scrub,” said Holden
Once h they continued the march for quite another hour, apparently they were as far off as ever frohted water nor ca distance of the object of their search
Again they stopped and faced one another with perplexed expressions
”I'll tell you what it is, old man--we've missed the way,” said Alf
But Bob was never ready to admit defeat of any sort
”Nonsense,” he said ”We've kept a fairly straight course”
”Or thought we have To ht to have reached the river by this tin of it”
”That's true Except for being free froht almost be where we started It looks est that we are nearer to the water”
”What's to be done?”
”I see nothing for it but to go back again and follow the river, as ere doing in the first place We were fools to think of taking short cuts The other way er, but it would have been a deal shorter in the long-run”
Both the boys were feeling rather fagged by this ti nature But each kept the thought to himself, and cheerfully stepped out with the intention of retracing his steps It was a disappointh; yet there was no help for it, and the situation had to be faced pluckily
But all the best intentions see that day, and it did not take an hour'sbefore Bob stopped and turned to his chum with a crestfallen countenance
”Look here, old , but my own opinion is----”
”That we've missed the path; that we are lost----”
”I'm afraid that is the truth of it You see, we've never come to any of the places that we had to clear with the tomahawk”
”Then what's to be done?” Alf questioned
Arnold took out his watch and looked at it
”What's to be done? Grub That's the first thing After that we canwhile we're hungry
Besides--well, to tell the truth, I' a little tired”
”I, too,” responded Alf, with a faint so on----”
”Just h, as he lowered hie maple ”So we'll rest here and have a bite We'll feel better afterwards”
The little camp was made, and a meal was enjoyed from the contents of Bob's haversack--biscuits and cold venison Neither of the lads thought it orth while to trouble about shooting and cooking a ht, in the event of their not being able to find Crane Creek again
After a considerable rest, the march was resumed for the third time On this occasion, however, the process was varied Their first purpose was, of course, to find the path by which they had coestion they carefully proceeded to walk in a circle--checking the route by notching the trees, and taking wider courses each time a circuit was completed
But even these means were ineffective Circle after circle was made, and still the earlier track was undiscovered All the afternoon was thus occupied, and, when evening calad to throw therass, too tired even to trouble about preparing food