CHAPTER V

LOST IN THE FOREST

Morning came, but it brought no news of the absent men. There now seemed
to be no possible doubt that some accident of a serious nature had
overtaken both, and the boys were at their wits' end to know what steps
to take.

There had been but one canoe for the outing, so it was not possible to
follow up the river course in pursuit of explanation. The only course
was to take the journey on foot. That would be a tedious process, seeing
that the river twined in some parts like a corkscrew. Two or three miles
might be walked, and yet only half the distance might be covered as the
crow flies. However, there seemed nothing else to be done. It was
impossible to remain idly at the camp waiting for what might turn up.
Meantime, their services might be urgently needed, and delay might only
increase the necessity.

"I vote we pack up our outfit in the tents and set off on the chance of
finding their tracks," said Bob. "We can take a good supply of
cartridges with us, in case we are delayed and need to forage for food."

"It's my opinion that we may have to go a good long way," was Holden's
view. "It would be as well to take a small axe and one or two things for
possible camping. A pannikin would be useful----"

"And a small coil of rope. You can never go far in the bush without
finding a use for rope."

"But suppose they come back in our absence?"

"Ah, that's well thought of," Arnold agreed. "It might mean starting out
to hunt for us. We'll leave a note explaining things."

As soon as breakfast was over, the boys made their preparations for
departure. They filled knapsacks with such supplies as they deemed
necessary to meet the circumstances and possible emergencies. They
packed away the loose articles of the camp outfit, and pinned a note
against the flap of the tent to explain the cause of their absence to
any person who might reach the ground before their return. Then they set
out bravely on their quest.

It was their first intention to follow the course of the river, even
though their journey might be considerably lengthened thereby. But very
soon it was found that such tactics were, in the main, impracticable. In
some parts the banks were steep and rocky; in others they were so
thickly clothed with bush that a pathway was only possible after the axe
had cut its way. The latter was particularly the case when a certain
great bend of the Athabasca was reached, so the chums determined