There was silence for a few seconds. Then from a considerable distance, she heard an answering voice.
A little uncertain as to the location and inclined to believe that the hail might come from Dr. Anderson and the rescue party, she called again.
The answer was clearer and seemed to come from about a quarter of a mile ahead of her.
She hurried forward. Soon she heard someone tearing through the brush and finally Letty and Edith appeared.
As soon as the two girls saw Mary Lee they sat down and began to cry.
"Aren't we the sillies?" said Edith tearfully. "We didn't think of crying until you found us."
"We're certainly glad you did find us," Letty added.
The two girls presented a sorry picture. Their faces and arms were scratched even more than Mary Lee's. Their dresses, too, were torn and one of Letty's stockings had a big hole in it.
The three hurried back to the point Mary Lee had marked. As well as the two girls could, they explained how they had wandered off on a side trail without being aware of it. Then they had suddenly realized they were in the thick of the woods. They had halloaed, but could not hear any answer.
Dr. Anderson and Aunt Madge were already waiting for them. The girls could hear them calling their names and Mary Lee shouted in response that she found the two.