"And as we're first-class scouts," said Jimmy, boastfully, "why, we're able to beat such dubs, with one hand tied behind our backs."
Perhaps all the others agreed with the speaker, even though no one voiced his sentiments just then. Jimmy was well calculated to do all the boasting for an entire party on occasion; but then he meant all he said.
Pretty soon Frank made a discovery that caused him to break loose and voice his surprise.
"Why, Ned, we don't seem to be heading down towards the big bay?" he observed.
"That's right, Frank," came the quiet answer.
"But I thought we'd surely have to follow the trail back there, just as we came?" Frank continued, as though sorely perplexed.
"We would," the patrol leader informed him, "if we were going back the same way we came, because it would be necessary to get in touch with our blazed trail, meaning all those landmarks we noted so carefully when coming on."
"What's that, did we have all that trouble for nixey?" blurted out Jimmy.
"Don't say for nothing, Jimmy," urged Ned; "because when you've gone to work and stored a lot of things up in your mind like we did, you've been exercising your memory, and that's always a splendid thing to do. We certainly noticed a bunch of queer growths in the woods as we came along, though it's hardly likely any of us will ever set eyes on them again."
"But why the change, Ned, if you don't object to telling us?" asked Jack.