They scrambled under the line fence, and Dot only tore one of the ruffles off her frock. They went on and on.
"We're almost to the woods," said Meg, as they dropped down under a ragged buttonwood tree to rest. "Where do you suppose the brook goes? Wouldn't it be fun to follow it through the woods and see what's on the other side!"
The four little Blossoms thought this would be great fun. They had not been in the woods yet, though Jud and Linda had promised to take them some day and Aunt Polly said it was the nicest kind of a place for picnics.
The children stood up, and shaded their eyes their hands. They could just see the eaves of the barn and the chimneys of Aunt Polly's house and the Apgar house. The brook twisted and turned so often, they had really walked further than they guessed.
"I'll bet it's dark in the woods," said Twaddles, marching ahead. "Maybe there's bears and things in there."
"Now don't begin and scare Dot," admonished Bobby. "Let's take hold of hands. My, isn't it nice and cool!"
They stepped from the sunny glare of the brook pasture into the cool, dark, rustly stillness of the beautiful woods. A chipmunk ran across their path, and tall ferns grew higher than their heads on either side of the brook.
Almost unconsciously the children left the brook and struck off into a pretty path that was laid with stepping stones and led up a slight hill. They saw two rabbits and heard gray squirrels chattering in the trees overhead. One squirrel came down and stared gravely at them.
"Isn't he pretty?" said Meg. "I wish he'd let me pat him."
"I saw a snake!" she cried, running to Meg. "A horrid, nasty little green one. And now I've lost my flowers!"
Sure enough, the bouquet she had been picking was scattered in all directions.
"Don't you care," Meg comforted her. "It was only a baby water snake. Aunt Polly told Mother that's the only kind that lives round here. Honestly, snakes are all right, Dot. Lots of people don't mind 'em a bit."
"Well, I do," said Dot decidedly. "They wiggle so. Let's go home anyway."
"I think we'd better," announced Bobby. "I don't know what time it is, but I guess there's no use looking for the raft any more."
"The raft?" echoed Meg. "Oh Bobby, where is the brook?"