"Now," said Martin, smiling, "I do not wish to contradict anybody, but I am acquainted with a path, a rather rough one to be sure, that will bring us, in about twenty minutes, to the edge of the pond. You know it is not as far away as people think, the crooked, winding road making it appear a long way off, when in reality it lies in a straight line only about half a mile from the village."
"But if we conclude to go, we can't fish," said Dolly.
"Why not?" quietly asked Martin.
"We haven't a line or a hook among us," put forth Nelly, "at least I am sure I haven't."
"Well I have," replied Martin, "provided you will not despise bent pins for hooks, pieces of the twine that is left of that I tied your bitter-sweet berries with for lines, a hickory stick like Dolly's for a rod, and earth worms for bait. There now, haven't I furnished the whole party with tackle? Come, don't let us go home without having something to take with us."
Dolly sat down on the stump of a tree and began to laugh.
"The idee," she said, "of going nutting and bringing home fish. Well, I'm willing, for one, if it's only to find out the path. I thought I knew all the ins and outs around here."
"And I'd like to go too," said Nelly.
"I should like to go well enough," added Bessie, "if it wasn't that I feel sure the extra walk will just bring me home too late for my cresses. Mother is sick, too, and she cannot be left alone very long; and Dolly, you know your father said you must not stay out late."
"Yes," said Dolly, "I know he did, and I don't mean to disobey, but it can't be very late yet; I should think not more than half past three."