CHAPTER XI
The Losing and Finding of Ailie
It was not until they had completed the day's task and the wood was all ready to be loaded into the cart, that Mr. Macrae missed Ailie.
Not seeing her about, he called out:
'Ailie, Ailie, my bairnie, where are you? Come ye here noo!'
Then, getting no response, he began to call louder and louder, and to go this way and that among the trees, looking anxiously for the golden-haired lassie, while Hector ran out on the prairie calling with all his might:
'Ailie! Ailie! come here.' Still no answer, and as the sun had set and it was already beginning to grow dusk, the anxiety of father and brother became intense.
Little Ailie was lost—lost on the prairie—and in a short time night would be upon them. Oh, what was to be done?
After the first hurried rushing hither and thither without avail, Mr. Macrae, realizing that it would be necessary to carry on the search on a larger scale, called Hector to him and said: