"We'd best go back and find our boots," she said, hurriedly wringing the water from the brown tweed. They had not realized how far they had roamed up the stream, and the length of the way back surprised them. It is not an easy matter to hurry over slippery stones, though they made what speed they could, urged by another summons from the whistle. "I think this was the place," declared Diana, at last arriving at landmarks that seemed familiar. "I left mine just over there." Both girls sought their hiding-places, but, to their utter dismay, the boots were missing. They searched about here, there, and everywhere, but not so much as the tab of a lace could be found. Meanwhile the whistle sounded impatient blasts. "What _are_ we to do?" flustered Wendy. "Toddlekins will be furious if we don't go; and yet how _can_ we go without our boots?" "We must have mistaken the place," gasped Diana. "Perhaps it was farther down." "No, no! I'm certain it was just here." "Well, we're in a pretty fix, at any rate." "T-r-r-r-r-ee-ee!" came again from the fell side. To disobey the summons deliberately was open mutiny. An agitated voice on the bank called to them. "Wendy and Diana, can't you hear the whistle? Come this instant!" It was Stuart Hamilton, who stood beckoning violently. "We've lost our boots," wailed Wendy. "Then come without them. Miss Todd has sent me to find you. Hurry up!" It was a scratchy and painful performance to hurry through heather and over sharp stones to the spot where the school was assembled. Miss Todd stood staring at them as they approached, with her "report yourself in my study" expression. They felt their bare legs and feet most embarrassingly conspicuous, and wished that fickle fashion had clothed them in longer skirts. "What is the meaning of this?" asked the Principal, eyeing their uncovered extremities severely. "We've--we've--lost our boots," stammered Diana, speaking for both. "And why were your boots taken off? You were aware of the rule, for I happen to know that you had just been reminded of it." (Here Wendy fixed a reproachful gaze on Geraldine, who coloured slightly.) "You've deliberately disobeyed orders, and you will be confined to 'bounds' for a fortnight. It's absolutely essential in our country rambles that discipline should be kept up, and any girl who breaks rules will stay at home next time. You deserve to walk back with bare feet, but Miss Beverley will give you your boots. Put them on at once!" It was horrible to have to sit down upon the heather and pull on stockings and boots under the critical supervision of twenty-two pairs of eyes. Diana's lace broke, and Wendy's fingers seemed all thumbs. Miss Todd superintended till the last knot had been awkwardly tied, then she gave the signal for marching. Considerably crestfallen, the delinquents dropped towards the rear. "Did Geraldine sneak?" whispered Wendy to Violet.