they had to do it. There was no turning back then.

On and on walked Hawk-Eye and Limberleg. The sun climbed higher and
higher. The children were thirsty, but they did not dare to run down to
the river for a drink. They were hungry, but they had nothing to eat.
They snatched little green leaves from the bushes as they passed, but
this was hardly enough to fill their empty stomachs.

"We'll just have to call them," said Firefly at last. "I'm so hungry
I've simply got to have something to eat, and if we stop to hunt for
roots, we'll never catch up with them again."

"They'll be as mad as mad bulls when they see us," said Firetop.

"Yes, of course. We'll get a good beating," answered Firefly. "We
expected that. But it won't hurt after it is over; you told me so
yourself."

"Jimminy!" said Firetop,--or if it wasn't "Jimminy" it was something
that meant the same thing,--"I just hate to think of it. Can't you go
on a little longer?"

"What's the difference?" moaned Firefly. "It's got to come some time.
We might as well have it over. I'm not going another step." And she
sat plump down on a fallen tree.

Firetop put his hands to his mouth and gave a long sharp cry. It was
the distress signal of the Bear Clan. Hawk-Eye and Limberleg stopped
instantly. They looked up the river; they looked down the river. Then
they caught a glimpse of two red heads and two very scared faces, far
back on the bluff. They came tearing back through the underbrush to the
two small figures on the log.

They could hardly believe their eyes.

"Where did you come from, you naughty little weasels?" cried Limberleg
angrily.

"From the cave," said Firefly. "We followed you because we want to see
what lies beyond the blue hills across the river, too. And if you are
going to spank us, please do it right away, because we are awfully
hungry."

"Oh, no," cried Firetop. "You needn't do it now if you'd rather not!
Couldn't you put it off until we get home again? We're willing to wait,
and you'd have more time then."

Limberleg and Hawk-Eye didn't discuss the matter. They sat right down
on the log and began. Limberleg took Firefly and Hawk-Eye took Firetop,
and they spanked and spanked.

"Now, can we have something to eat?" sniffled Firetop when it was over.
Limberleg looked at Hawk-Eye. "We can't send them back alone," she
said. Firetop saw that they were going to give in.

"The hyenas would surely get us," he said plaint