“Thanks, William,” returned Mary Louise. “Good-bye.”
She and her father walked on down the hill towards the little shack where the colored family lived, and stopped there to inquire again about Elsie. But Mrs. Jones had not seen her since the previous morning; however, she pointed out just what path the girl had taken. So Mary Louise put Silky on the trail, and the three began their search.
CHAPTER XVIII
Found!
With Silky in the lead, Mr. Gay and Mary Louise followed the path behind Dark Cedars which led directly into Cooper’s woods. It was new to them both, for although they had gone to these woods many times, they had always entered from the road that ran past the creek and the swimming hole.
“It’s much cooler this way,” observed the girl. “So nice and shady.”
“Silky seems to know what he’s doing,” remarked her father. “He’s going straight ahead.”
“I’m afraid he’s making for the swimming hole,” returned Mary Louise. “He loves a swim as much as we do.”
“Do you want to stop for one?”
“I’d like to, but I don’t think we better. It would take too much time, dressing and undressing.”
“Maybe we can have one on our way back.”