"What do you mean?" questioned Dave, quickly.
"Ain't no use to go further, seeing as how we don't know whar we are gittin' to."
"Sam, we are lost!"
"So we are, Dave, teetotally lost at thet, too."
Dave gave a long look around, and in spite of his natural bravery a shiver went over him. He had been lost in the forest before, but never in such a complete wilderness as this. Because of the trees and brushwood they could not see fifty feet on any side of them. The silence remained unbroken, although they strained their ears to the utmost, to hear even the gurgle of a distant brook or the note of some bird.
It was a situation to alarm the stoutest heart. Dave had heard numerous stories of travelers, and even experienced hunters, becoming lost in the wilderness, and either losing their lives because of this, or becoming insane through their wanderings. He knew the tales to be true, and as he gazed around the reason became very plain to him.
"We might as well take it easy," said Barringford, trying in his rough way to comfort his companion. "Ain't nuthin to be skeert about, yet."
"Have you any idea where the trail is, Sam?"
"I've been allowin' to myself it's off thar," and the old frontiersman pointed out the direction he meant. "But I ain't puttin' up no money on it."
They tried to rest, but each was too much disturbed in mind to remain quiet, and soon they went on, deeper and deeper into the great wilderness. So they continued until night came on and all became black around them.