here were they?"

Many more such questions were uttered, while some persons ran one way
and some another. Several young men seized their guns and fired several
shots in quick succession, but Mr Ross stopped them as quickly as
possible.

Mr Ross, although alarmed, was the first to get some order among them,
and on the closest questioning it came out that none were certain that
they had seen the children since about three o'clock, and that was when
they were emptying their little dishes of berries into the larger
receptacles. Then, excited by the contest, they had rushed off for
more.

A rumbling of thunder in the west startled them, and so, prompt must be
their movements. To the point where the little ones were last seen a
dozen or more had hurried, and ere they scattered in the forest to begin
the search they were told that the firing of the guns would be the
signal of success or failure. One report meant they were not found; two
reports, close together, was the signal that they had been found, and
for the searchers to return. Immediately all those who were able to act
as searchers, without themselves becoming lost, scattered to their work.
On account of the vastness of the forest Mr Ross positively refused to
allow Frank, Alec, or Sam to go any distance away on the search. This
was a keen disappointment to the boys, but Mr Ross was wise in his
decision. The searchers had very little to assist them in their work.
There were any number of signs where had walked the busy feet, but the
trouble was there had been so many pickers at work, and they had
travelled so far, that it was impossible to pick out the tracks of the
two lost children.

Only an hour or so were the searchers able to do anything that night;
for the thunderstorm was on them, and in spite of all they could do they
were all drenched through and through. Mrs Ross, although stricken
with grief, kept firm control over herself, and, surrounded and
comforted by Minnehaha and the three boys, huddled under the slight
protection which some Indian women had hastily prepared against the
fierce storm. Mr Ross had done all that was possible in directing the
watchers as they brought all their Indian experience to their aid. Thus
the hours passed. The storm spent its fury in the heavy downpour of
rain, and then was gone. The stars came out from behind the flying
clouds, and the night again became one of beauty. Still there were no
signs of the children.