“Looking for us, too, I suppose,” she sighed. Then, realizing that they must know Rosa and her habits better than she did, came the discouraging fear that they too might be off in the woods—hunting for Rosa.
Moments seemed like hours, and every time Nancy espied someone who looked a little bit like Dell and presently found she was mistaken, her resources would wane.
“If it had been any other time,” she couldn’t help grumbling, “when I knew persons and places. But the very first night—”
“Woo-hoo!” came a call. Then: “Nan-cee!”
“Oh, there she is!” cried Nancy aloud, disregarding those around her. “Dell!” she called. “Here I am!”
In a moment Dell, her own face showing relief at the locating of Nancy, sprang up to her side and just grabbed her.
“You runaway! Where ever have you been?”
“Oh Dell, do hurry!” whispered Nancy. “Where is your brother?”
“Child! What is it?”
“Rosa’s hurt.” The words were driven straight into Dell’s anxious ears.