All this time they had been taking the utmost pains to leave a trail; but now, as they were going back to the river, it seemed no longer necessary: so they walked along much more easily and quickly, merely trying to make their pathway as straight as possible.
They walked on for a long time.
The river seemed much more distant than they had supposed.
Still they cheered themselves with the thought, at almost every step, that the next step would bring them in sight of it.
One more pause.
Still the river did not appear.
Another hour passed.
Still no river.
Nevertheless they toiled on, for having set before themselves this river as a certain place to be reached, they were not willing to stop short of it.
But the farther they went, the more hopeless did their attempt seem.