“I guess not. And your idea of keeping him here is a good one, too. Only for that Amos might start out to hunt us up; and so we’d all keep on chasing around in circles, no end of time. I’m ready, if you are, Teddy.”
“Here is where I found when he went away. The trail is as plain as anything, too. No trouble about following that. We’re off.”
And with these words Teddy started. Indeed, they doubtlessly moved along even more rapidly than Amos himself may have gone, because on his part the woods boy halted every little while to look around, and ascertain if there were any bees working on the wild flowers. Had he found such Amos was prepared to capture one that was already laden with honey, attach a white thread to him, and then let the insect go free. It would invariably head straight for the tree hive, for a laden bee always goes home directly, whence the saying of a “bee line.”
Watching until he could no longer see the trailing white thread, Amos would have marked the spot. Capturing another laden honey gatherer he would attach a second thread, and let him loose.
And in this fashion would he draw nearer to the forest hive, until certain well known signs must have betrayed its presence to the honey hunter.
But evidently Amos was not finding any bees. At least, he seemed to make no effort to play this well known little game.
The afternoon wore away, and evening came on. By now the boys guessed they must be several miles from their camp on the shore of the lake; and so far not a sign of the missing comrade had they run across.
Both of them became more anxious. At Teddy’s suggestion Dolph even fired three shots in quick succession. But though they strained their ears they heard no response to this recognized signal that should have had an answer.
“I’m afraid there’s something wrong,” remarked Dolph.