“Was he very angry?”
“More alarmed than angry. We didn’t know what might have happened. Well, dear child, I don’t think I was ever so glad to see any one. You must be half starved. Come in and get something to eat.”
“The boys saw to it that I had something,” Joanne told her. “I want you to meet my friends, Bob Marriott and Jack Barry. They are my rescuers from the snare of the fowler and the terror that walketh by night.”
Mrs. Pattison shook hands with them both, saying, “I can’t thank you enough for taking care of this poor child, and for finding her.”
“We didn’t find her; she found us,” declared Jack. “She walked into our camp just like that.”
“And wasn’t I surprised and delighted when I saw two Boy Scouts?” said Joanne. “And when I discovered that one of them was an old friend, you may imagine how pleased I was.”
“Well, even if you have had supper you must have a fresh appetite after your long walk,” said Mrs. Pattison, “so do come in and have a bite.”
The boys were glad of an excuse to see the interior of the lodge, so they all went inside, Joanne still clinging to her basket of flowers, and it is safe to say that all three gave no evidence of having eaten an hour earlier, from the way they despatched sandwiches, milk and cakes.
The meal was not finished before Mr. Clover appeared, to whom Joanne must tell the story of her wanderings, then Cousin Ned had to have an account, and last of all Unc’ Aaron, whose ejaculations were a steady accompaniment to the recital.
“Praise de Lawd yuh is safe! I say don’ know whicher way to go! All in de dark, po’ li’l lamb! Tard an’ hongry! Bress de Lawd yuh sees dat fiah! Whar yuh be now ef yuh hasn’t? Uh! uh! ain’ it de troof dey Boy Scouches?” These and others were his frequent interruptions.