st together than get lost each one alone!"
exclaimed Joan.

"Sort of 'United we stand,' etc.," chuckled Julie, in spite of her
concern over not finding the way.

They kept on forcing a way through the thick bush and resting now and
then when they found a little clearing; but finally Judith cried:
"You'll have to go without me! I'm so weak from hunger I can't walk
another step."

"Girls, suppose we stop and cook the steaks?" asked Dick.

"I say so, too," agreed Julie.

So they cleared a little space in the woods and with two rubbing-sticks
soon produced fire. While two of the girls were doing this, Dick washed
the mushrooms in the little spring they had seen, and then sliced them
with his knife.

"We haven't any salt or bacon, but they'll taste good to starved
wanderers," said Dick, holding one over the fire to cook.

Each girl spiked one on a sharpened stick and held it out to broil. When
the mushrooms were cooked they each ate until they felt better. Then
Dick made a suggestion.

"Making this fire gave me an idea. Why not make 'two smokes' for
signals. If Alec or any one else is looking for us, they can see them."

"Why didn't we think of that before! Fine idea, Dick," said Joan.

"What will 'two smokes' mean?" asked Judith.

"Means 'we are lost,' come find us," said Dick, busy with two heaps of
firewood.

"But you can't signal here under these trees, Dick! We've got to find an
open place where the smoke can rise up above the tree-tops, you know,"
advised Julie.

Dick realized he had been caught napping by a girl, and he didn't like
it very much but he could not show his annoyance, for Julie was right.
So he stood up and said: "I'll shout as loud as possible,--maybe they
will hear us." So he shouted until he was hoarse.

"In this dense forest, where the trees break every sound, the smoke
signal is as good as any other. Let us find a clearing," suggested
Julie.

So they sought again, and soon found an open spot where the sky was
visible without any obstructing tree-branches overhead.

"Why, this looks like the same clearing that I said would make a fine
baseball diamond," declared Julie.

"So it does! And here is a broken twig where we went out," said Joan.

[Illustration: "We are lost, come find us" ... Page 98]

"Then we can't be many miles from home," laughed Julie, her spirits
rising again at the slightest encouragement.

They made two smokes, however, and waited to watch the thin spira