And this was soon done. The children looked round them with delight at the little winding paths, the banks of green moss, and the thick overhanging bushes and trees, that seemed so full of life and interest. Douglas was in his element.
'We'll find a place we must call home first, and then we'll see what food we've got.'
The foot of an old oak tree was chosen. Bits of cake, pudding, some biscuits, and a few lumps of sugar were then produced from different pockets, and these were given over to Douglas, who, wrapping them in paper, deposited them inside the hollow trunk of the tree.
'Now,' he said, 'we must all divide, and go in search for adventures; and when we've found them, we can come back and tell the others here, and then we'll have a feast.'
'And if we don't find any?' questioned Betty doubtfully.
'Then you must go on till you do. Why, of course a wood is full of dangers. I mean to have an awful time. We must go two and two; Molly and I will take this path, and the twins can take that one, and you, Betty, must go by yourself, because you're the odd one.'
'I always have to go alone,' murmured Betty; 'it isn't fair.'
Bobby and Billy stood clasping each other's hands, and looking with anxious though determined faces along the path mapped out for them.
'And if we should meet a cwocodile?' Billy asked, lifting his blue eyes to those of his big brother.
'Then you must either kill it or run away,' said Douglas. 'And crocodiles don't live in woods.'