e taste of sarsaparilla, and could not be deceived.

"We hain't come to it yet," said Peter; "but it's round here somewheres,
I'll bet a dollar."

"I'm getting hungry," said Horace: "isn't it about time for the
dinner-bell to ring?"

"Pretty near," replied Peter, squinting his eyes and looking at the sky
as if there was a noon-mark up there, and he was the boy to find it.
"That bell will ring in fifteen minutes: you see if it don't."

But it did not, though it was high noon, certainly. Hours passed. Horace
remembered they were to have had salt codfish and cream gravy for
dinner. Aunt Madge had said so; also a roly-poly with foaming sauce. It
must now be long ago since the sugar and butter were beaten together for
that sauce. He wondered if there would be any pudding left. He was sure
he should like it cold, and a glass of water with ice in it.

O, how many times he could have gone to the barrel which stood by the
sink, and drunk such deep draughts of water, when he didn't care
anything about it! But now he was so thirsty, and there was not so much
as a teaspoonful of water to be found!

[Illustration: CAPTAIN HORACE LOST. Page 42.]

"I motion we go home," said Horace, for at least the tenth time.

"Well," replied Peter, sulkily, "ain't we striking a bee-line?"

"We've got turned round," said Horace: "Canada is over yonder, _I_
know."

"Pshaw! no, it ain't, no such a thing."

But they were really going the wrong way. The village bell had rung at
noon, as usual, but they were too far off to hear it. It was weary work
winding in and out, in and out, among the trees and stumps. With torn
clothes, bleeding hands, and tired feet, the poor boys pushed on.

"Of course we're right," said Peter, in a would-be brave tone: "don't
you remember that stump?"

"No, I don't, Peter Grant," replied Horace, who was losing his
patience: "I never was here before. Humph! I thought you could find your
way with your eyes shut."

"Turn and go t'other way, then," said Peter, adding a wicked word I
cannot repeat.

"I will," replied Horace, coolly: "if I'd known you used such swearing
words I never'd have come!"

"Hollo, there!" shouted Peter, a few moments after, "I'll keep with you,
and risk it, cap'n."

"Come on, then," returned Horace, who was glad of Peter's company just
now, little as he liked him. "Where's our baskets?" said he, stopping
short.

"Sure enough," cried Peter; "but we can't go back now."

They had not go