CHAPTER XVI
A WALK IN THE WOODS
"Only three days left of Camp Crosstrees," said Dolly, as the girls satin the shack one summer afternoon. "I never knew two weeks to slip awayso quickly."
"Don't you love it?" said Dotty, looking around at the various delightsof camp life, the wooded hills and the distant mountains. "There'snothing like it, Doll; I wish we didn't ever have to go back to town."
"You'll have your visit with me, before we go back to Berwick. I wonderif you will like Surfwood, Dotty?"
"I'll love the seashore, I know; but I don't know about liking the bighotel. Don't you have to keep dressed up all the time and all that?"
"Why, we don't wear party clothes all the time. Of course we can't goaround in an old serge skirt and middy blouse as we do here. Butmornings we'll wear ginghams or linen frocks and late in the afternoondress up nice."
"Awful bother, fixing up so. I like to go round as we do here. Nobodycares what they wear in camp."
"Of course it's awfully different at the hotel, but you'll like it afteryou get there. I don't see why you object to dressing decently. It'sonly a habit, going around in these old regimentals!"
Dolly looked with distaste at her brown serge skirt, and her tanstockings and shoes, the latter decidedly the worse for wear and scarredand scratched by stones and brambles.
"Oh, I've got plenty of good clothes; Mother's been fixing them all inorder. And I know I'll like it to be down there two weeks with you. ButI mean for a whole summer, I'd rather be up here, tramping around thewoods and dressing like Sam Scratch, than to fuss up fancy every day."
"I wouldn't. I've had an awful good time up here on this visit, but fora whole summer, I'd rather be at the seashore, and at a hotel where Iwear pretty white dresses and silk stockings and slippers."
"Aren't we different!" and Dotty laughed as she looked at her goldenhaired friend. "Sometimes I wonder, Doll, that we're such good friends,when we're so awfully different. Everything I like you hate andeverything you like I hate."
"Oh, not quite that. In lots of ways, we like the same things."
"No, we don't. I like to go off in the woods on long tramps, and you'drather lie around here on a lot of balsam pillows and read a story bookor do nothing at all."
"I expect I'm lazy."
"No, you're not, not a bit of it. You're ready enough to work if it'sanything you like to do. Why, at a picnic, you'll do more than all therest put together. We're just different, that's all. You're easy-goingand good natured, and I'm a spitfire."
"Well, I guess it's good for us to be different, and so we influenceeach other, and that's good for both of us."
"Well, I'll influence you right now to go for a ramble in the woods.It's lovely to-day. Just the kind of a day when the breeze sings in thetrees and the birds flutter low and you can watch them."
"All right, I'll go, if you don't go too far, nor walk too fast. We'veonly three days more up here, and we won't have many more chances to gowoodsing, so come on."
"All right, we've a good long afternoon. You go ask Maria for somecookies and fruit, and I'll go tell Mother we're going. But don't letGenie know. We don't want her along to-day, for she gets tired in aboutan hour."
Dolly went in search of Maria, half sorry that Genie was excluded fromthe party, for unhampered by the child, Dotty was apt to walk fast andfar in her untiring energy. But Dolly could always make her stop andrest by a reference to the weak muscles that still troubled her a littleon a long walk. The girls had entirely recovered from their brokenbones, but Dolly's was an indolent nature and disinclined to greatexertion at any time.
Carrying their sweaters and a box of food they started off for theirtramp in the woods.
"I want to get a whole lot of birch bark," Dolly said, as they walkedalong; "let's look for particularly nice pieces and get a whole lot totake with us down to the seashore."
"What for?"
"Oh, to make fancy work out of. Everybody does fancy work and they havebazaars, something like the one where we took the cake prize. And we canmake lovely things out of birch bark for the bazaar tables."
"All right, we'll gather a heap. What shall we do with our cake prize,Doll, save it or spend it?"
"I'd rather spend it. I think it would be nice if we bought somethingspecial with it. Two things you know, just alike, to remember our firstcake by."
"Something to wear?"
"Maybe. A ring or a pin or something."
"Couldn't get much of a ring for ten dollars. And we've got a lot oflittle fancy pins, both of us. What do you say to a gold pencil foreach?"
"Only they never write very well; the leads are so hard."
"That's so. Well maybe beads, or how about a lace collar?"
"Let's wait till we get down to Surfwood and ask Trudy. She'll tell ussomething nice, and maybe we'll buy something there, or else in New Yorkas we go through on the way down."
"All right. Here's some good birch bark, only it's yellowish. Let's keepon till we find some whiter."
The pair rambled on, happily chatting and laughing and now and thensitting down to rest or to refresh themselves from the box of lunchwhich was rapidly growing lighter.
"We have an awful lot of bark," said Dotty, looking at the big bundlesthey had collected.
"Yes, too much. Let's chuck out the worst pieces and just keep the best.And I'd like some more of that silvery kind. It's awful pretty combinedwith this dark yellow to make things."
"We want to get some big pieces. A portfolio of the silvery kind linedwith yellow is lovely."
"Yes, with one corner turned back and a ribbon bow on it."
"Yes, or tied with sweet grass. There's a big tree on ahead. We can getsome there, I'm sure."
"All right and there's another tree out there,--that's a dandy."
Eagerly they went on, absorbed in their fascinating quest. For thehunting of birch bark is ever enticing and lures one on to furthertreasures like a mirage.
"We can't carry another scrap," said Dolly, at last, laughing to seeDotty with her arms full of rolls of bark and more pieces gathered up inher skirt.
"No; we'll sit down and straighten this out and roll it up and finishthe cookies and throw away the box and then we'll go home."
It was hard to throw away any of the beautiful bark, for they hadgathered only fine specimens, and the quantity they finally selected tokeep was a goodly load.
"We'll put on our sweaters," said Dolly; "so we can carry it all. It'sno heavier than that lunch box was."
"No heavier," agreed Dotty; "but a good deal more bunglesome and awkwardto carry."
Each girl had a big fat roll under each arm and turning they startedgaily along in single file.
"You go first," said Dolly, stepping back; "I'm not sure I know the way.I declare to goodness, Dot, I don't see how you remember the wayyourself. You've got a regular guide's brain under that black mop ofyours! How do you know which way to go, when you can't see anything buttrees?"
"Easy as pie!" Dotty called back over her shoulder. "Just follow thenose of Dorothy Rose and away she goes!" And Dotty hopped over a bigstone, while Dolly walked around it.
On they went, Dotty leading the way and Dolly following.
"It's getting awfully late, I believe the sun has set," said Dolly,shivering a little under her woollen sweater.
"Oh, no, the sun hasn't set, but you can't see it in these thick woods.We'll soon be out of this thick part now. We came quite a way in,Dollypops."
"A million miles, I should say! That's the worst of you, Dot, you neverrealise that all the walk you take has got to be walked back again!"
"'I took a walk around the block, to get some exercise,'" Dotty chanted,imitating a popular song which was a favourite with the boys.
"Exercise! I've had enough to last me the rest of the summer! Honest,Dot, I've got to rest a few minutes; I can't walk another step."
"Dollyrinda Fayre, you do give out the easiest of anybody I ever saw!Sit down on that stone and
rest, do. But you mustn't wait long, for Iguess it _is_ about sunset. I feel sort of chilly, and I don't hear thebirds much."
"All right, Dotsy, I'm rested now," and Dolly jumped up and walked on.She tired easily, but also a rest of a very few minutes made her readyto walk on again. She followed Dotty in silence for some distance andthen said; "you're sure you _do_ know the way, aren't you?"
"M--hmm," Dotty flung back over her shoulder and trudged on.
But Dolly noticed a difference in Dotty's attitude. She walked asquickly as before but she was not quite so alert. Also, she keptturning her head suddenly from side to side with a gesture of aninquisitive bird, a little uncertain which way to fly.
"You do know the way, don't you, Dotty?"
"'Course I do, Doll, don't be silly."
"How do you know it?"
"Just by instinct. I've been around these woods so much, I just kind ofknow the way home, even if I can't see out. Don't you see this kind of atrail? We just follow this and it brings us out right by our own camp."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure! What's the matter with you, Dolly?"
"Nothing; only it seems as if we'd walked as far since we've started forhome as we did when we were going."
"So we have, nearly. Just a little farther now and we come into thatclump of beech woods, don't you know? Where there aren't any birchtrees, hardly."
"Yes, I know where you mean; but this doesn't look like it."
"'Cause we haven't got there yet, that's why. You wouldn't think birchbark would be so heavy; would you?"
"I don't mind it. Here give me one of your bundles; I'd just as lievecarry it as not. Give me the one out of your left wing. I know that onemust be tired."
"'Deed I won't. You've got enough to carry. I'll throw my left handbundle away before I let you lug it."
"Oh, don't throw it away! It's a shame, after we've taken such troubleto gather it. Do let me carry it, Dotty."
"No, sir, I won't do it! I don't mind it, anyway. Come on, Doll, let'shurry a little. Don't you think it's getting sort of dark?"
"Not dark, exactly, but dusky here under the trees."
"It isn't dusk, Dolly, it's dark! I mean, it's after sunset, and thereal dark will settle down on us in a few minutes. I know more aboutthese woods than you do, and I know we want to get along faster. Wemustn't be in here when it gets really dark."
"But you said you knew the way, Dot," and Dolly's tone was anxious.
"I do, most always, but if we'd been on the right track we ought to havebeen out of the woods before this. I must have got turned aroundsomehow."
Dotty stopped still and turned a despairing face toward Dolly.
"Good gracious, Dot, you don't mean we're lost!"
"I hope not that, but honest, I don't know which way to go."
"Why not go straight on?"
"I'm not sure, but I think that leads us deeper into the woods."
"Why, Dorothy Rose! You _said_ that was the way home!"
"I know I did, and I thought it was; but don't you see, Dolly, if it_had_ been the right way, we would be home by now?"
"Oh, Dotty, what are we going to do?"
Dolly's face took on a woe-begone expression, and her big blue eyesstared at the white face of her friend. "I'm frightened, Dolly, I-- Inever was lost in the woods before."
"Nor I, either. I've often heard of people being lost in these woods,when they were really quite near their homes. One man was lost for threedays before they found him."
"Oh, don't say such dreadful things! It's getting awful dark, and I'mcold, and--and I'm scared!"
"I'm all those things, too! oh, Dolly, I'm awfully frightened!" andDotty dropped her bundles of birch bark and sitting down on a stonebegan to cry hysterically.
Now Dolly Fayre was the sort to rise to an emergency, where Dotty Rosewould lose her head completely. So Dolly, though terribly frightened,controlled herself, and sitting down, put her arm around Dotty and triedto cheer her.
"Brace up, Dot, it can't do a bit of good to cry you know. Now you knowmore about this sort of thing than I do, what do people do when they'relost in the woods?"
"Hol--holler," said Dotty, weakly, between her sobs, "holler like fury,and m-maybe somebody hears them and maybe they d-don't."
"All right, let's holler," and Dolly gave a yell, that sounded about asloud and carrying as the pipe or a bulfinch.
"Who do you s'pose'll hear that?" and Dotty almost smiled through hertears; "this is the way to holler." Dotty gave a loud scream, a longhalloo, tapping her fingers against her mouth as she did so, making apeculiar mountain cry, known to campers.
"All right, I'll do that, too," and Dolly set up a rival yell.
But though both girls did their best, their screams were not very loudand they were followed by a silence, so intense, that they shivered andclung together in fear. The dark had fallen suddenly, and though onlyabout seven o'clock, in the thick woods, they could scarcely see eachother's faces.
Appalled by the awfulness of the situation, Dolly burst into tears, andthough not as violent as Dotty's, her sobs were deep and racking ones.
"Oh, don't, Dollyrinda, _don't_ cry so! I'll never forgive myself forlosing you in these awful woods!"
"You didn't lose me, any more than I lost you. We both lost each other;I mean-- I guess I mean we're both lost!" and Dolly's tears fell afresh.
Then both girls gave way and cried desperately, till they could cry nomore, and with their stayed tears, they seemed to take a brighteroutlook.
"If we're lost," said Dolly, philosophically; "we must make the best ofit. Are there any wild animals, that would eat us up?"
"No, nothing of that sort. Nothing but squirrels and birds, and theycan't hurt us."
"Then there's nothing really to be afraid of--"
"No, I s'pose not. Only starving to death, and catching pneumonia and afew little things like that."
"We won't starve right off, that's certain," said Dolly, practically;"at least I won't, I'm so fat. But you poor little picked chicken, youmay!" And Dolly patted the thin little shivering shoulders that snuggledup against her.
"I'm hungry now; I wish we'd saved the cookies."
"You can't be hungry, Dot, not _really_ hungry. Now, let's plan what todo. Shall we walk on and take our chances or shall we camp here for thenight. It isn't so very different being here under the trees or underour own trees in camp."
"'Tisn't very different, hey? Well I think there's all the difference inthe world! What are you going to sleep on? What are you going to coveryourself with? Oh, you know we couldn't sleep anyway, when we're lost!"and Dotty suddenly gave a vigorous yell which startled Dolly nearly outof her wits. But realising what it was for, she quickly joined in, andthe two shrieked and shouted until it seemed to them that all the campsin that region must hear them.
But only those who have tried it, know how thoroughly one may get lostin the Adirondack woods in a very short time, or how loudly one mayscream without being heard even by the friends who are searching forthem.
And they were searching for the lost girls. When the two failed toappear by half-past six, Mr. and Mrs. Rose became apprehensive for theirsafety. They knew the girls had gone for a long ramble in the woods, butit was the rule of the camp to be back for six o'clock supper, unlessdue notice had been given.
"They're lost in the woods," Mrs. Rose declared, and though hoping thecontrary, Mr. Rose agreed with her.
They had telephoned to all the neighbouring camps and as no one had seenthe girls that afternoon they felt sure of what had happened.
"We must make search parties," said Bob, while Bert looked thoroughlyscared at the thought of his sister's danger. "It isn't so awfullyunusual, Bert. People get lost in the woods often, don't they, Dad?"
"Yes," replied Mr. Rose; "but it isn't often our little girls! Call upLong Sam, Bob; tell him to bring lanterns."
Many of the neighbours volunteered assistance and inside of an hourthere were various search partie
s beating the woods for the missinggirls.
But Dotty, when thinking she was walking toward home had really beenwalking in the opposite direction and the two girls were much fartheraway from camp than their rescuers thought for.
"Nothing doing," said Jack Norris, despondently, as he met Bob and Bertin the woods.
"Then we must keep at it," said Bert; "anything is better than givingup."
The various searchers separated and came together again. They screamedand shouted; they whistled and blew horns; their dogs barked, and itseemed as if some of these noises must reach the girls' ears and bringresponse calls.
But there was no success, and one by one the neighbours gave up and wenthome.
But Mr. Rose and the two boys, with Long Sam, kept up the search allthrough the night. They built fires occasionally, but dared not leavethem, and put them out as they went on.
At last, Long Sam seated himself dejectedly on a fallen log, hisextraordinary length of limb doubling up like a jacknife.
"'Tain't no use," he declared. "They ain't no livin' use o' trackin'these woods any longer. We mought strike them girls in a minute and thenagain we moughtn't run across 'em in a thousand years. Lord knows I'mwillin' to keep on, but I'm jest about tuckered out. And I put it to youMr. Rose, wouldn't it be better to rest a bit, and then push on?"
"Perhaps it would, Sam," and Mr. Rose's fingers worked nervously; "but Icouldn't stay still, I'd go crazy. I think I'll push on and take mychances."
"Yes, and get yourself lost," grumbled Sam; "so's we'd have three tohunt 'stidden o' two!"
"You are done up, Sam," said Bert Fayre, kindly. "You stay here, and wethree will drive ahead a little."
"Wal, I'll jest give one more howl, and see if that ketches anythin'."
Long Sam stood up on a log and gave a high pitched, long drawn outshout, that seemed as if it must penetrate the farthest depths of theforest.
"Now one, all together, like that," he said, and the four voices, joinedin a mighty shout and then waited in breathless silence.
"I heard 'em!" Sam cried out; "I heard 'em! Now all you keep quiet!" Andthen Sam's voice rang out once more in a sharp short shriek. He listenedand then exclaimed; "Yep! I heard 'em! Come on!" And with long strideshe started anew into the blackness of the woods.
The others eagerly followed. They had heard no sound, but their ears hadnot the marvellous acuteness of the Adirondack guide, and without aword they hastened to keep up with Long Sam's pace.
"Sing out again!" Sam cried, several times, and at last the others couldhear the faint high shrieks of Dotty and Dolly.
It seemed an endless journey, but at last the search party came upon thetwo girls.
"Oh, Father!" and Dotty threw herself into his arms, while Bert made agrab for Dolly and Bob danced around the group in glee.
"You're a nice pair!" observed Long Sam, who was no respecter ofpersons, when acting in his capacity of guide. "What d'you cut up such atrick as this for? You might 'a'knowed you'd get lost!"
"Now Sam, don't scold," said Dolly, well knowing that the bluff chap wasreally talking roughly to hide his glad emotion at the rescue.
"You ought to be scolded all the same, but I s'pose your folks is soglad to get you back that they'll just make the world and all of you."
And Sam's prognostication was verified. Following Sam's lead the partytrudged through the woods, all so jubilant at the happy ending to theirsearch, that scolding was not even thought of. And indeed why should itbe? The girls had done nothing wrong, unless perhaps they had wandered alittle deeper into the forest than it was advisable to go without aguide. But Dotty was positive it would never happen again. And when theyreached camp and found Mrs. Rose and Genie waiting for them and a mostappetising supper spread out by Maria, the two refugees found themselveslooked down upon as heroines and were quite willing to accept the role.