Dorothy felt she would now find Urania--she must find her--and soon the afternoon would be lapping over into twilight!
“Can you hurry a little, father?” she asked, as the Major trudged bravely along. “It is quite a distance to the hillside.”
“And maybe a ‘wild goose’ chase at that,” replied her father. “I didn’t just exactly like the look on that boy’s face. He may have fooled you.”
“Do you think so!” exclaimed Dorothy, instantly allowing her spirits to flag.
“Well, we may as well look,” answered her father, “but I wouldn’t take too much stock in the word of a youngster of his type.”
Then, in their haste, they forgot conversation, and for some time neither spoke. The road seemed very rough, and the path very uncertain. Dorothy glanced at her father, and was at once concerned for his comfort.
“Are you tired, Daddy?” she asked. “Perhaps I am asking too much of you.”
“Oh, I guess I can stand it,” he replied. “It won’t take much longer to make that hill.”
The great grove of chestnut trees now towered above them. Yes, there were voices--girls’ voices, too!
“I hear someone,” announced Dorothy, as she stepped over a small rivulet.
“Yes, so do I,” said the Major. “But it is hardly likely our little friend would be with a crowd of school girls--see, there is the teacher!”
Dorothy’s heart sank. There was the teacher, sure enough, and the girls--
The disappointment was keen--Dorothy had felt Urania must be near, but instead of finding a lonely girl, she and the Major encountered a group of school girls on a nutting party, all joyous and seemingly filled with the very enthusiasm of the autumn day itself.
No need to make inquiries of them--Urania would never allow herself to be seen by this party.
“I suppose we will have to go home,” said Dorothy sadly, as Major Dale showed plainly signs of fatigue.
“If you are satisfied we have looked thoroughly,” answered the Major. “But I am not willing to give up the search until you say so.”
“I don’t know where else we can look,” replied Dorothy, with a catch in her voice.
“But there may be spots nearer home,” suggested Major Dale. “You know we made sure of the faraway places, but how about those in our own neighborhood?”
“Indeed there is. Oh, do let us hurry before it gets too dark. How queer I should never think of that cave!”