“Look for a place to stay over night,” was the prompt answer. “We’ll need shelter, anyhow. Let’s find a good place, and cut some hemlock branches for a lean-to.”
“A cave would be just the cheese,” spoke Dick. “Maybe we can find one if we look.”
“Then we’ve got to get busy,” declared Bert. “It’ll soon be dark.”
Rather at a loss in which direction to start, the boys walked back along the bank of the river. Then, seeing a sort of trail, they followed that.
“Where does it lead to?” asked Jack, as he limped along.
“I don’t know,” answered Tom. “It’s been traveled, I can see that, and it may lead us to some sort of shelter.”
“I wish it would lead us to a restaurant,” murmured Bert.
“Hey, cut out that line of talk!” warned Tom.
It was now so dark that they could hardly see, but the trail was firm under their feet. It led up the hillside that sloped away from the river, and then, turning, followed the stream.