"Yes," was the short answer.
"Then speak out, little boy! Have you seen the child? Where has she gone?" asked Herr Feland with increasing excitement.
"I will show you," replied Seppli, and went to the door. They all rose. They all looked at one another. No one knew whether to take the suggestion seriously or as foolish.
But Herr Feland followed the boy without any hesitation.
"Seppli, Seppli," said Father Martin reprovingly, "I really think you are making a promise you can't keep."
But Seppli kept trotting along, Herr Feland following, and the men coming reluctantly after.
When the little fellow aimed for the forest they stood still, and one of them said:
"It is utterly useless to follow the boy in there, for we have searched through every place and found nothing. We will not go."
Martin informed Herr Feland that he himself did not have any confidence in the boy. But Seppli kept marching along, and Herr Feland and Martin decided to follow.
Seppli walked resolutely on farther into the woods. Suddenly he turned to the left toward the old fir-trees, where they soon saw something red gleaming through. Seppli steered straight ahead, through the midst of briers and prickly thistles, to a light spot, where there were many large bushes together, all covered with red flowers. Here he stood still and looked around a little puzzled. He had evidently expected to find Rita there. Then he went with determination on his way. The blossoming bushes became fewer, but larger and larger. Seppli stood still by each one for a moment and looked around, then he would go on, always to the left.