"Then we have made up," said Ran with boyish eagerness.
"Of course," returned Nan. "I was miffed only for a few minutes. I knew before we got home that you spoke as you did so I wouldn't insist upon staying. Still," she added, "it was hard to go off and leave one's sister to wildcats, though I must say Mary Lee isn't thinking much about them at this moment, and I hope she isn't dreaming about them. There comes Phil, so he is all right. Mary Lee says he was so brave and manly, little as he is."
Phil joined them. "Say, did any of you see my watch?" were his first words.
"Why, no," replied the two. "Have you lost it, Phil?" asked Nan.
"I'm afraid so. I must have caught the chain on something in the woods and snapped it so the watch fell out when I stooped over. The end of the chain was hanging from the buttonhole when I looked last night after I came home, but the watch was gone."
"Isn't that too bad?" said Nan, sympathetically. "You will have a hard time finding it, I am afraid."
"I'm afraid so. I wouldn't lose that watch for anything, and I'm going to hunt high and low for it."
"We'll all help," said Ran. "We'll organize a search party, Phil, and go up the mountain to-morrow afternoon."
"Say, that will be fine," said Phil, gratefully. His watch was one of his dearest possessions; he had not had it very long and was feeling very hopeless over its loss. "I don't suppose we shall find it," he went on, "but I'm glad to have your help in looking for it. How's Mary Lee?"
"She's asleep," Nan told him. "Aunt Sarah said we were not to disturb her. I think she is only worn out. You are all right, aren't you, Phil?"