"'Lost, Strayed or Stolen'—it's all the same if we have to miss our dinner," sighed Joan.
They managed to cross the boggy spot and then trailed to a place that Dick claimed was the clearing. But it turned out to be a little fen made by a tiny spring.
"What we should have done was to leave our marks as we came through—broken twigs, or trampled grass, or some such signs," said Julie.
"But we didn't, and now is no time to talk of it!" Dick said impatiently, for he began to realize that they really were lost.
"We can begin right now, however, and then not keep circling around without recognizing that we were there before!" snapped Julie.
So the girls began, then and there, to leave their signs as they followed after Dick, who really knew not where he was leading.
"Had we better separate and go in different directions to hunt the camp?" asked Dick finally.
"Mercy, no! Better be lost together than get lost each one alone!" exclaimed Joan.
"Sort of 'United we stand,' etc.," chuckled Julie, in spite of her concern over not finding the way.
They kept on forcing a way through the thick bush and resting now and then when they found a little clearing; but finally Judith cried: "You'll have to go without me! I'm so weak from hunger I can't walk another step."