“There’s one thing certain,” he said, “and that is that we’ve gone by the path. We’re in the maples now.”
“That’s so,” Malcolm agreed, “but I don’t see how we missed it. I’ve been watching for it all the way down.”
“It wouldn’t be hard to miss, I guess,” ventured Jelly. “It isn’t much of a path even when you’re on it.”
“No, and we’ve probably crossed right over without seeing it at all. Well, the only thing to do is to keep on down and see where we land.”
“How much more is there, do you suppose?” asked Evan rather dubiously.
“Oh, a quarter of a mile, likely. It won’t take long. Give me that bundle of tin-ware, Evan.”
Evan surrendered the load to Malcolm and they went on again. But it was slow work, for the trees were thick and the undergrowth often made detours necessary. Finally they rested again and Jelly set to work vigorously rubbing his leg muscles.
“You know,” remarked Rob calmly, “the plain fact of the matter is, fellows, that we’re plumb lost.”
The others nodded.
“Lost as anything,” said Malcolm. “Still, we’re bound to get down finally.”