Tom's idea was to keep well within the forest, but within access to its western edge, so that they might scan the country across the river at intervals. They were so refreshed and encouraged as they tramped through the deep, unpeopled wilderness which they knew must bring them to the border, and so eager to bring their long journey to an end, that they kept on for a while in the darkness until, to their great surprise, they came upon a sheet of water the bank of which extended as far east and west as they could see. Tom fancied he could just distinguish the dark trees outlined on the opposite shore.
"Let's follow the shore a ways and see if we can get round it," he said.
But a tramp along the edge, first east, then west, brought no general turn in the shore-line and they began to wonder if the Schwarzwald could be bisected by some majestic river.
"I don't think a river so high up would be so wide," Tom said. "If I was sure about that being the other shore over there, we could swim across."
"It would be betterr to get around if we could," said Archer, "because if we'rre goin' wherre people arre we don't want our uniforms all soaked."
"I'm not going to try to find her, if that's what you mean," said Tom; "not unless you say so too, anyway."
"What d'you s'pose I dived forr that glass forr?" Archer retorted. "We're goin' to find that girrl—or perish in the attempt—like old What's-his-name. You've got the right idea, Slady."
"It ain't an idea," said Tom soberly, "and if you think it's—kind of—that I—that I—like her——"
"Surre it ain't, it's 'cause you hate herr," said Archer readily.
"You make me tired," said Tom, flushing.