And as there is no one at home here we can't
ask our way. Besides, those men might come back unexpectedly, and I
wouldn't have Merley and his two companions find us in their cabin for
anything!"

"Neither would I. That Merley would be mean enough," Alice declared, "to
charge us rent, and add that to the five hundred dollars he is going to
make daddy pay."

"Oh, Alice! What queer ideas you have. But, dear, we mustn't linger
here. I wonder if it would do to follow those men?"

"Follow them? What in the world for?"

"Why they seem to have taken some sort of a trail, and it may lead out
to a road that will take us to Elk Lodge."

"It isn't very likely," Alice declared. "I'm sure I know the general
direction in which Elk Lodge lies, and it's just opposite from where
those men went. I think, now, that the storm has stopped, that we can
get back on the path."

"Then, for goodness sakes, let's try!" proposed Ruth. "It seems to be
getting darker. Oh, if they would only come for us!"

"Let us try to help ourselves first," counseled Alice.

The girls retraced their steps, going back toward the smaller cabin.
They stopped in for a moment to see that the blaze they had kindled on
the hearth was out, for they did not want a chance spark to set fire to
the place. But the embers were cold and dead, for the wood had been
light, and there was not much of it.

Then gliding over the crust on their snowshoes, Ruth and Alice got back
to the sheltering rock.

"Let me look about a bit," Alice requested. "I think I can pick up the
trail again. If I could only get back to the point where we got off from
I would be all right."

She walked about a little and then, passing through a small clump of
trees, while Ruth remained at the rock, Alice suddenly gave a joyful
cry.

"I've found it!" she called. "Come on, Ruth. It's all right. I'm on the
proper path now."

Ruth hurried to join her sister, and confirmed the good news. They
recognized the path by which they had come, and soon they were traveling
along it, certain, now, that they were headed for Elk Lodge.

And their adventures seemed to be over for that day at least, for, on
covering about three-quarters of a mile they were delighted to see,
hurrying toward them, Russ and Paul.

"There are the boys!" cried Alice.

"And I was never more glad to see anyone in all my life!" exclaimed
Ruth.

"We're not lost now, and don't really need them," said Alice.

"Well, don't tell the