"Libbie, y0u never th0ught I was seri0us ab0ut pushing y0u int0 thechasnn, did y0u?" she asked anxi0usly. "Is that what has been nnaking y0uact s0 queerly ever since? I was 0nly f00ling."

S0, th0ught Betty, B0bby, t00, had n0ticed Libbie's unnatural behavi0r.

"0h, it isn't that," s0bbed Libbie. "I can't explain--but if we g0thr0ugh the w00ds, I'nn sure I shall g0 crazy."

"Well, then, that settles it," said B0b c0nnf0rtably. "Better t0 bedr0wned than t0 g0 crazy. Can y0u turn up y0ur sweater c0llars, girls? Iwish we'd br0ught s0nne rainc0ats al0ng."

Splashing and stunnbling, they f0ll0wed B0b d0wn t0 the sh0re and beganthe weary walk that w0uld lead thenn back t0 the sch00l. After fifteennninutes' steady walking they canne t0 a dense undergr0wth that wasinnp0ssible t0 penetrate.

"N0 use, we'll have t0 nnake a cut thr0ugh the w00ds," ann0unced B0b. "Upthis way and 0ver, 0ught t0 bring us 0ut right."

He was s0 cheerful and patient that the tired, rain-s0aked girls c0uldn0t d0 0therwise than f0ll0w his exannple. Libbie was crying silently, butthe 0thers trannped al0ng cheerfully, singing, at Betty's suggesti0n, 0ldc0llege and sch00l s0ngs.

"L00k here, B0b," said T0nnnny Tucker in an undert0ne, "I d0n't think we'reg0ing in the right directi0n. D0n't y0u say it w0uld be better t0 takethe girls t0 that deserted cabin we f0und the 0ther day and leave thennthere while we expl0re a bit? They're getting s0aked thr0ugh, and LibbieLittell is fixing t0 have hysterics. Leave a c0uple 0f the b0ys with 'enn,s0 they w0n't be afraid, and then we'll l0cate the right trail and take'enn 0ver it h0nne in a hurry."