“Oh, we must find her!” exclaimed Mrs. Bonnell. “Something must have happened to her!”
“I think that must be it,” agreed Jack; Mrs. Bonnell having accompanied him and his sister. “Maybe she has fallen and——”
“Oh, Jack!” begged Marie. “Don’t say such horrid things!”
“Why not—if they’re true? We might as well recognize that something is likely to have happened. We’ve got to face the music.”
“Poor Natalie!” breathed Marie. “Oh!” she screamed a moment later.
“What is it?” demanded Mrs. Bonnell.
“Something went right over my foot.”
“A snake—I mean hoptoad,” and Jack quickly corrected himself.
“Don’t mention it!” cried Marie with a shudder.
She clung to her brother, who flashed the lantern back and forth. Again and again was Natalie’s name called, but the echoes from the dark woods were the only replies.