"Wouldn't they go first to the place where we took the picnic films?"
asked Alice.

"I suppose so, yes; but when we came away from there we left no trail
they could follow. So it will be sort of hit or miss with them, as it
will be with us."

"We ought to fire the gun once in a while," suggested Mrs. Maguire.
"That's what all lost persons do."

"Good idea!" commented Russ. "I should have done it before. And they will
probably fire to attract our attention, for there are several guns
aboard the steamer."

They now made up a definite program, to the effect that they would stop
every half-hour to listen for possible shouts and shots and would also
shout and fire in their turn.

This was done, but the sun was nearly noon high, and they had heard no
sounds save the natural ones of the swamp and forest.

Now and then they would see alligators in the waters up or down which
they rowed, but the saurians showed no disposition to molest the boat.
And Russ had too few cartridges to wish to waste any on the creatures.

"We may have to spend another night in the open," he confided to Paul.

"It doesn't look very hopeful," agreed the young actor.

Noon came, and as far as could be told from listening, and from looking
about, they were as far off as ever from the steamer.

"And yet it may be within a comparatively short distance of us," said
Russ, as cheerfully as he could. "Only the woods are so dense that we
can't see it, and if our voices and the sounds of the gun carry to the
_Magnolia_ those aboard can't tell from which direction they come."

They had been keeping on in the course first decided on--southeast--and
there were many twists and turns to the trail.

"Would it be any better to get out and walk?" asked Ruth.

"I think not," said Russ. "The boat is really easiest and best for us."
He did not say so, but he thought that if they had to spend another night
in the open the boat would be absolutely necessary. So they remained
aboard.

At noon they tied up, and went ashore to eat the last of the food. Only a
little coffee remained, and as the final meagre crumbs were disposed of
each one feared to look the others in the face.

What would be next--where would the next meal come from?

No one could answer.

"Well, we'd better move on, I suppose," suggested Russ, after a pause.
"No good staying here."

"That's the idea," agreed Paul, trying to speak cheerfully.

He glanced at the two girls. Ruth's lips wer