their parents, and even their own safety; for Edward proposed
they should take a short ramble on the other side, where they were to
try if they could discover some other ruins like those at the fort, and
overruling the slight opposition Anne made, they gathered up the relics
they had found, and moved on from the stream towards the deep luring
shades, that were the same for many thousand miles, unbroken by the
bound of civilization, but bewildering by its still mystic loveliness.

On they went, regardless of taking any notes or landmarks until the
exhaustion of Anne warned Edward it was indeed time to return. Changing
their course for one they mistook for that they had come, they plunged
deeper and deeper at every step into the woods, without discovering
their error, until they knew by the distance they had traversed they
ought to have reached the old fort: but now it was no where to be seen,
neither were there any signs of a river. They wandered to and fro,
hoping every moment to make out the true direction to take, yet
becoming more confused and bewildered at every step. Finally, Edward
laid his ear to the ground, and listening, was sure he heard the faint
murmuring of water. They hastened on towards the direction whence it
proceeded, guided by the sound, until, oh joy! a stream burst upon
their sight. Reaching its banks, Edward took his sister in his arms,
plunged into the water, and was soon in safety on the opposite shore.
He was now in a great quandary, for though he had gained what he
supposed to be the bank he had left, without having lost time in
building a raft, yet he knew if he missed his way he would not be able
to gain the camp by sunset, for he saw by the long falling shadows that
the sun was rapidly descending.

Anne was greatly terrified, and wept bitterly. "Do not grieve," said
Edward, "they will of course miss, and come in search of us, if we do
not get home soon. I am very certain we are very near the camp
already."

"I am afraid we are lost," Anne replied, sobbing, "and if we are, we
may never get back again!"

"Fie! Anne, don't be a coward, for I am very certain we shall, and that
within the hour."

"How can you be certain? you do not even know which direction to take."

"Oh! yes I do: we came south, and of course must go north to get back
again."

"If we only knew which way was north. No stars are to be seen to
indicate it."

"Easily enough told,--come, we must not lose a moment, and as w