a long series of
jagged rocks.

"We can't cross there," remarked Randy, when they had reached the
brink of this split. "We'll have to go back into the woods and go
around."

It was now about five o'clock in the afternoon, and the tramping and
climbing had tired all of the boys, yet they set off as rapidly as
possible, feeling that it would be best to make a report to Captain
Dale as soon as possible.

"I wish we had some trail to go by," remarked Randy, after they had
been walking for at least half an hour. "I begin to think we are not
moving in the right direction."

"I've been trying to guide myself by the sun," answered Spouter. "Just
the same, I don't believe we are headed exactly for the camp."

"I've got to go a bit slower," sighed Andy, who for once was by no
means light-hearted. "Both of my feet are beginning to hurt from all
that climbing over the rocks. I came pretty close to twisting my ankle
this afternoon, and it has been paining ever since."

Another half hour went by, and then, as the declining sun began to
cast long shadows through the trees of the forest, the cadets looked
at each other in alarm. The same thought had come into the minds of
each of them.

"It looks as if we were lost," said Randy laconically. "How about it?"

"Oh, as the Indian said, we're not lost," responded Andy, with a
faint smile. "It's only the camp that has gone astray."

"This is no time for joking," said Spouter coldly. "We've got to get
back to camp, and do it just as fast as we can!"

"All right then, Spouter, show us the way," answered Andy readily.

"That's something I'm not so sure of," was the slow reply. "Which
direction do you think it is in?"

The matter was talked over for several minutes, and finally the cadets
moved off once more, this time at an acute angle to the direction they
had before pursued. They went forward for perhaps a quarter of a mile,
and then, much to their surprise, suddenly came out upon a
well-defined wagon road.

"Well, what do you know about this!" cried Randy in astonishment.

"Where do you suppose this road leads to?" questioned his brother.

At this Randy shook his head, and Spouter did likewise. They could see
the tracks of a horse and wagon in the road, and also the marks of
automobile tires.

"It must be quite a road if it is used by automobiles," was Spouter's
comment. "Now the question is--which way shall we go in order to get
to our camp?" All had noticed that the r