“No, that couldn’t be right, Billy, because the sun was on our left when we turned round, and you helped me down that rock.”
“Was it, sir? Then it must be down here.”
Billy led the way and Mark followed; but at the end of a few minutes he called a halt.
“No, no; this can’t be right,” he cried, as he gazed about a wilderness of huge rocks and trees, where bushes sprang up on every hand.
“Well, do you know, Mr Mark, sir, that’s just what I was a-thinking,” said Billy. “I’ve been a-puzzling my head over that there block o’ stone as is standing atop o’ that tother one, and couldn’t recollect seeing of ’em afore.”
“No; it must be this way,” said Mark uneasily. “How stupid, to be sure! We must find our way back.”
“Why, of course, Mr Mark, sir; and we will; but it aren’t us as is stupid, it’s these here rocks and trees as is all alike, just as if they was brothers and sisters, or peas in a pod.”
“Don’t talk so,” said Mark angrily, as he realised more fully their position; and a sense of confusion made him petulant. “Let’s act and find our way. Now, then, which way does the mud-stream lie?”
Billy scratched his head, stared about, and then said softly:
“Well, sir, I’ll be blest if I know.”