in despair.

"They can eat their shoes," said Willy, reflectively.

The ladies exclaimed in horror.

"That's what men always do when they get lost in a wilderness where
there is no game."

This piece of information from Willy did not impress his hearers as
much as he supposed it would.

"I'll tell you! Let me and Frank go and carry 'em something to eat!"

"How do you know where they are?"

"They are at our Robber's Cave, aren't they, Cousin Belle? We told
the General yesterday how to get there, didn't we?"

"Yes, and he said last night that he would go there."

Willy's idea seemed a good one, and the offer was accepted. The boys
were to go out as if to see the troops, and were to take as much food
as they thought could pass for their luncheon. Their mother cooked and
put up a luncheon large enough to have satisfied the appetites of two
young Brobdingnagians, and they set out on their relief expedition.

The two sturdy little figures looked full of importance as they strode
off up the road. They carried many loving messages. Their Cousin Belle
gave to each separately a long whispered message which each by himself
was to deliver to the General. It was thought best not to hazard a
note.

They were watched by the ladies from the portico until they
disappeared over the hill. They took a path which led into the woods,
and walked cautiously for fear some of the raiders might be lurking
about. However, the boys saw none of the enemy, and in a little while
they came to a point where the pines began. Then they turned into the
woods, for the pines were so thick the boys could not be seen, and the
pine tags made it so soft under foot that they could walk without
making any noise.

They were pushing their way through the bushes, when Frank suddenly
stopped.

"Hush!" he said.

Willy halted and listened.

"There they are."

From a little distance to one side, in the direction of the path they
had just left, they heard the trampling of a number of horses' feet.

"That's not our men," said Willy. "Hugh and the General haven't any
horses."

"No; that's the Yankees," said Frank. "Let's lie down. They may hear
us."

The boys flung themselves upon the ground and almost held their breath
until the horses had passed out of hearing.

"Do you reckon they are hunting for us?" asked Willy in an awed
whisper.

"No, for Hugh and the General. Come on."

They rose, went tipping a little deeper into the pines, and again