Part 21 (1/2)
”I shouldn'tworse than ever ”You don't understand I'll go away, and I'll explain when I am better”
She seized her sunbonnet, tucked her book under her arm, climbed up the side of the ferny dell, crossed the track, and ran into the wood on the farther side, leaving Prue and Grizzel to finish the squabble between themselves
”We have eaten too much, that's what's the matter,” she said to herself, as she slowed down to a walk and the giggle became less severe ”This hot sun all the time makes one feel crossish”
She ca a little she peered within It looked shady and cool, its floor powdered with decayed bark h, she decided, to sit upon and rest until her giggles had finally subsided She crept in, snuggled down comfortably, opened her book, and soon was deep in the adventures of Professor Arrownax, Ned Land, Captain Ne slowly round, the sun clirew hotter and hotter, but Mollie, ski the bottom of the sea in the _Nautilus_ was oblivious of heat She alking in the sub on sand ”soith the i of a sun-dried branch near at hand startled her and re She closed her book, crept out of her tree, and set off towards the Dell
”I wish,” she said i new to do His one idea seems to be to pass He ”
She stood still as she spoke and looked before her Surely the trees were growing rey-white trunks repeated theht in her path lay a fallen giant which she was perfectly certain she had not passed before
”Bother! I have co her steps ”I res cut round their trunks--there they are”
She reached the ringed trees, turned her back upon theht on But she came to a dried-up creek which she had not seen before She could not haveit, for it was too wide to jued trees
”I can't be far fro certain I'll coo- ee”
She coo-eed her best and shrillest, but no answer came There was no sound but the occasional scamper of some small furry anipie All around her the rey trunks stood, as much alike as the pillars of a town-hall, and overhead the blue-green leaves stirred languidly in the ind Mollie was standing, though she did not know it, on priin to realize was that she was lost
”I _can't_ be far away,” she repeated to herself ”I wasn't running for five minutes The point is, how a is so difficult in this upside-down place; I haven't the least idea which is north and which is south; nor which way the wind blows, nor how the shadows fall, nor _anything_; and if I go the wrong way I will only get farther and farther from the Dell The best plan really is to sit down and wait till someone comes Someone is sure to look for me sooner or later; dick and Jerry will, anyhow” She looked about her again in search of inspiration
Sitting down and waiting was not a cheerful prospect dick and Jerry ht merely wake up suddenly and find herself in the Chaunceryshe didn't! Supposing that she couldn't get back without Prue, and that she turned into an interesting case for the What's-its-naht try cli round in search of soing; there were feith boughs within her reach, and the few there ere too low to be of any use as observation posts
She sat down and resolutely opened her book ”Never say die till you are dead,” she repeated, fir the Guide's se”
But she no longer walked in the submarine forest; she only sat in a wood and read about other people doing it, lifting her eyes fro her head uneasily froreat, still place!
What was that? A pie or a human whistle? ”--two-three, _one_-two- three, _one_--” So to her feet and coo-eed with all herstopped short, and there was an answering shout in a ain
”Hi! You'll have to come to me,” the ”
It is not an easy thing to locate a sound in the open air, and though Mollie had had some practice in the course of her Guide work, it was only after several shouts on the man's part and experi beside Mr John S stretched out before hilad to see you,” he said to Mollie ”I have sprainedwhat to do next There see for it but to crawl all the way holad to see you too,” said Mollie ”I a man ”Oh no, you aren't I have a compass, and it is not more than a couple of miles or so to Silver Fields, von Greusen's place I'll show you how to use a coo to Silver Fields and ask therateful to you for ever”
”I kno to use a coreatly relieved, ”and I will go to Mr von Greusen's place if you tell e up your foot and make it feel easier I have learnt First Aid May I take that thing off your hat for a bandage?”--as she noticed the pith helaree? Good idea! I don't knohat First Aid is precisely, but it sounds appropriate Do you e?”
”Rather,” said Mollie, comfortably conscious that she was a First- class Guide and a bright and shi+ning light in this particular line
”How did you sprain your ankle? I suppose you--” she stopped short
She had almost said that she supposed he had tripped over an obstacle in a fit of loverishness ”I suppose your foot just went
That's what ht it in a rabbit-hole,” he answered, ”the floor of Australia seems to be perforated with them Why didn't you coo-ee sooner?”