"Jasper!" commanded Miss Elting sharply. "I shall require you to keep just ahead of us within sound of our voices even though you cannot see us in the darkness. How far are we from the camp?"
"Three miles," answered the man sourly.
Tommy groaned.
"My feet are giving out," she complained.
"Let me help you along," said Harriet, placing an arm about her little companion. "Try to forget your tired feet."
"I've a pain in my neck too. I might forget the pain in my neck but the pain in my feet ith there to thtay."
"Never mind, we shall be at Camp Wau-Wau in a couple of hours, then we will have something to eat and you will go to bed and sleep. Isn't it all perfectly delightful, dear?" comforted Harriet.
"Yeth, it ith fine. Tho fine you can't thee it," agreed Tommy dolefully.
It was a trying journey at best. They had lost all track of time, not being able to consult their watches in the dark. Jasper had no matches and he was very irritable, which perhaps was not surprising in view of the fact that he had lost his horse and wrecked a wagon for which he undoubtedly would be called upon to pay, as it did not belong to him. After a time they gave up trying to obtain information from Jasper.
The dull glow of a fire through the trees gave them the first inkling that they were nearing their destination. Tommy was being fairly lifted along by Harriet The latter did not complain at supporting the girl and the suit case, but her arms ached from the exertion.