“Sure, ’s time enough!”
But Westy wondered and was worried. He knew that any attempt to swim back across the lake would be foolhardy. The whole place was probably a series of the whirlpools. And it was senseless to take the chance. The forest was their only means of escape. They’d have to trust to luck to get out of it and around over the mountain. That was the question now uppermost in his mind. How and where?
As if reading his thoughts, Rip faced him, half-asleep, and smiled:
“I guess the question for to-morrow is: Where do we go from here?”
CHAPTER XXV—LOST
The desire to sleep soon overcame the desire to think and wonder more, and it made Westy powerless to do anything but just shut his eyes. It lulled his tired nerves like a powerful opiate after the day’s events and soon he and Rip were breathing quietly and restfully through the long night.
A faint chink of light shining through the aperture told Westy that it was daylight. But he was disheartened when he heard the steady patter of rain upon the dead leaves outside. Rip was still sleeping peacefully as yet and Westy hadn’t the heart to disturb him.
There was an awful gnawing sensation in his stomach and he felt mighty uncomfortable and stretched out a bit. With that Rip stirred and sat up quickly.
“Jiminy, I didn’t know where I was for the moment! Some little hiding place, eh? I wonder what Unk thinks, though?”
“I’ve been thinking of that, too.” Westy was thinking of a little tell-tale pile of clothes that would be discovered along with his own discarded shoes.