"In my opinion it is nobody's fault that we have got lost, but lost we are. Of course Frank and I ought to have had more sense, but we didn't have it, and I reckon what we ain't got ain't our fault.--But if it wasn't our fault for losing you girls, it is sure up to us to get you home again and now we had better set to it somehow." Skeeter deposited his gunnysack of squirrels beside the one of grapes and threw himself down beside Lil on the green, green grass of the unexpected dimple. "Well, Lil and I are not blaming you. If we haven't got as much sense as you boys, I dare one of you to say so. We could have told we were getting lost just as much as either one of you, and it is no more your business to get us home than it is our business to get you home, is it, Lil?" "I--I--reckon not," faltered Lil; "but I've got to rest a while before I can get myself or anybody else home." Poor Lil! She was about all in but she kept up a brave smile. "There must be water here or this grass would not be so pizen green in August," said Skeeter. "Let's go find the spring first, Frank." The boys wanted to get off together to discuss ways and means and hold a council of war. "Say, Skeeter, what are we going to do?" asked Frank, as they made for a pile of rocks down in the middle of the dimple, where it seemed likely a spring might be hidden. "Darnifiknow!" "Do you know it's 'most night? I thought when we got to the top there would be lots of light, but all the time we were coming up the sun was going down, and blamed if it hasn't set now." "Yes, and no moon until 'most morning. What will Miss Douglas and Miss Helen say to us?" "I'm not worrying about what they will say, but what will they think? I am afraid Lil can't take another step tonight. She is game as game, but she is just about flopped." "We might make a basket of our hands and carry her thataway," suggested Skeeter. "Yes, we might! Lil is not so big but she is no dollbaby, and I don't believe we could pack her a mile if our lives depended on it." "Well, what will we do? Can you think of anything?" "Well, I think that one of us must stay with the girls and the other one go snooping around to try to find somebody, a house, or something. You stay with them and I'll go. I bid to!" "All--right!" But Skeeter did think, considering he was at least two months older than Frank and at least three inches taller, that he should be the one to go the front. The rôle of home guard did not appeal to him much, but when a fellow says "he bids to," that settles it. The spring was found down low between the rocks--such a clear, clean spring that even the greatest germ fearer would not hesitate to drink of its waters. "Look, there's a little path leading from the other side! It must go somewhere!" cried Frank.