"This is the right way all right for I noticed that we went generally in an easterly direction coming here and we have been going west for some time. Let's hustle on."
They did so and neither spoke a word for some time. At last they both paused, startled, for they heard a crashing in the bushes up the stream. They darted into the woods as quietly as they could and looked out. The crashing continued and came their way. Finally, as they looked out they saw that it was a man and they both gave a shout. This was answered at once by Mr. Anderson's cheery voice. Pud's short cut had proved a very long way home. Bill and the two leaders had gone around the foot of the mountain and had saved a long distance in that way. After reaching the lake they had waited there for some time and at last Mr. Anderson, remembering the instructions that Mr. Waterman had given, had started down the stream to find them. He said that they did not have a very long distance to go.
Mr. Anderson's appearance had acted like a tonic and the boys followed him eagerly. They soon heard voices and in a moment more they saw Mr. Waterman and Bill sitting on a big log by the shore of the lake right near where the stream ran from the lake. Bill kidded Bob and Pud about getting lost.
"I didn't get lost," replied Bob. "Pud thought that by going down into the valley and then up the stream that we would beat you here."
"It was much longer," said Mr. Waterman. "We merely skirted the edge of the mountain and came here almost directly."
"It's a good thing that Bob was with me," said Pud.
"I got mixed up when I got to the stream and I wanted to go down the stream instead of up," replied Pud.
"Well, why didn't you then?" asked Bill.
"Bob was sure we had to go up stream and he insisted on going in that direction," admitted Pud.