As the merry train vanished, as the last flag fluttered its farewell through the cloud of dust, he felt all at once abandoned and forlorn. He started to run, but soon realized that he could never overtake those swift cars, and he dropped back into his former pace. After all, there was nothing to worry about; he had simply to follow.
A little further on occasional green fields gave courage to the tired boy, and after a while he reached the open country, finally coming to a fork in the road. He halted in perplexity, wishing that he had not contented himself with such indefinite directions. Billy had said, “You go right straight along, ’ithout turnin’ a single once,” and Blue had rested in that. Not a person was in sight, and the only house was a considerable distance back. At last, he decided on the way that seemed nearest in line with the one he had come, and so trudged on.
The sun was almost overhead. Could he have been walking for three hours? The day was sultry, and Blue looked down with dismay at the blouse on which his mother had expended so much care—it was limp with perspiration!
“Well, I can’t help it!” he muttered. “Guess the other fellers’ll sweat, too!”
If only he knew how far ahead those “other fellers” were! The sound of wheels came from behind, and soon a milkman’s team drew near. Blue voiced the one question in his mind.
“The Salvation Army’s picnic? Oh, you’re off the track! They’re over in Highland Grove. Let’s see—reckon your best way is to cut ’cross lots. Jump in, and I’ll set you down a piece farther on.”
The boy was grateful for the little rest. His feet ached with the long miles he had come, and it was a relief to feel that he was going forward without their help. But the ride was brief as pleasant, and shortly he was on the meadow side of a wire fence, with the instruction to “go right across there, and you’ll find ’em.”
Blue,—making a path through the tall Timothy, grasshoppers flocking ahead, bees and butterflies winging past, birds calling from an adjoining wood,—had suddenly entered a new world. A swift little brook crossed his way, and, as he sprang over, a green slope under a big oak urged him to a seat. Forgetful for the moment of his destination and the brother awaiting him, he threw himself on the grass with a tired sigh. The buzzing of the bees on the hot, drowsy air was like a lullaby. He closed his eyes. Then, with a rush, came remembrance—he jumped to his feet, and started on.
It would have been easy to stray from the right direction, and some good angel must have guided his reckless steps, for only with the crossing of a few fields he came upon a straggling party of girls, and his long journey was nearly at an end.
When he reached the grove he was distressed at sight of Doodles sobbing in Joseph’s arms. The tears stopped flowing the instant Blue appeared, although an explanation had to be given before the small boy would be satisfied.