“Sure, if we go back, it will just take us home. We won’t dare show our faces at camp unless we have at least the promise of some chickens and roasting ears. I hope to carry back some in the gunnysacks.”
“Of course we must go on,” chorused the girls. “We are not one bit tired and if we go on we are sure to come to Jude’s cabin.”
Go on they did, how far there was no telling. The path went down, down, down, but led only to another spring. The boys shot some squirrels and the girls found a vine laden with fox grapes.
“Let’s get all we can carry so we can make some jelly. Helen was wishing only the other day she had some. They make the best jelly going,” said Lucy, and so they pulled all they could reach and decided the ones that hung too high would be sour.
“Do you know I believe it’s most supper time—I’m getting powerful empty,” declared the insatiable Skeeter.
“Supper time! Nonsense! I betcher ’tain’t three o’clock,” and Frank peered knowingly at the sun. “That mountain over yonder is so high, that’s the reason the sun is getting behind it. I betcher anything on top of the mountain it is as light as midday.”
“I do wish we could find Jude’s cabin. This has been the longest walk we ever have taken,” sighed Lil. “Not that I am the least bit tired.” Lil was not quite so robust as Lucy, but wild horses would not drag from her the admission that she could not keep up with her chum.
“Let’s sit down a minute and rest,” suggested Frank, “and kinder get our bearings. I’m not sure but perhaps it would be less loony if we start right off for home.”
The sun had set for them and it was growing quite gloomy down in the valley where the path had finally led them. Of course they well knew that it was shining brightly on those who were so fortunate as to be on the heights, but the thing is they were in the depths.