"Our lanterns? Well, William didn't want to, but I insisted. I knew that if we missed you fellows, and lost ourselves in the bush, they'd come in mighty fine for company," returned Bobolink.
"Then let's light up. After that we'll spread out, and try to find the trail," with which remark Paul set the example.
Presently five lanterns glowed like giant fireflies.
"Think it lies in this direction, Paul?" asked William.
"I'm sure of it. After that man's track came alongside the print of the little chap's shoe, there was no more wandering about; but it struck straight ahead. That told me the trail was heading for a house," came the ready reply.
"A house. Say, is there any other place up here but the old farm alongside the mill pond? I don't seem to remember any," remarked Bobolink.
"And that's just where I expect we'll bring up sooner or later," observed Paul.
"Then why not put for the old place at full speed right away?" suggested William, always impetuous.
"To do that we'd have to drop the trail again. And besides, what does an hour, or even two of them, matter in the end? Slow but sure is the successful scout's motto, boys. Hello I look here, what's this?"
Paul thrust his lantern down close to the ground. Bending over to look, the others could see the plain impression of a child's little shoe. It was heading due north, just as many similar tracks had been of late.
"Now if you look at this you'll see it's nearly crushed out by the big print of a man's foot; while just beyond the child has stepped into the impression made by the man. That can mean only one thing; the two were going on in company, and for a minute he let go the little one's hand, so that first the child was in front, and then behind."
"I guess you're right, Paul. But see here, what does this mean? The small track has dropped out altogether," remarked William.
"That is where the big fellow picks the boy up in his arms, and is carrying him," said Wallace, before Paul could answer.
"Right you are, that is just what happened. To tell the truth I don't know why he didn't do that before. He must have been toting some bundle along, and couldn't well carry the boy too. Come back a bit. I want to look around," and Paul retraced his steps until he had reached the spot where a confusion of tracks met his gaze.