"Yes, it is something!" she insisted. "Well, then, I was wondering if we possibly could have come down some wrong creek. There were a number of turns, you know." "Do--do you mean, we are--lost?" faltered Ruth. "Well, I'm afraid I do." CHAPTER XXI THE LONG NIGHT Ruth began to cry quietly--she really could not help it. Alice felt like following her example, but the younger girl had the saving grace of humor. Not that Ruth actually lacked it, but it was not so near the surface, nor so easily called into action. "Isn't it silly?" Alice suddenly exclaimed. "What?" Paul wanted to know. "Getting lost like this! It's too funny--" "I wish I could see it, my dear," observed Ruth. "Try to," urged Mrs. Maguire. "It does seem a bit odd to be lost like this, and maybe the steamer only just around the corner." "Probably she is," agreed Russ. "We must call again!" This time they united their voices in a shout that carried far, but the only effect it had was to disturb some of the denizens of the forest. "But what are we going to do?" queried Ruth. "We--we can't stay here all night." "We may have to," answered Russ, grimly enough. "Oh, please don't say that!" she faltered. "Why, it won't be so bad," put in the jolly Irish woman. "We've got a roomy boat, thank goodness. We can lie down on the rugs, with our rubber coats for protection against the dew. We have some food left, and the moon will soon be up, for it's clearing fast. Then, in the morning, we can find our way back to the steamer." "Of course!" exclaimed Paul, who realized the necessity of keeping up the spirits of the girls. "We'll be laughing at this to-morrow." "Do you really think so?" asked Ruth, timorously. "I'm sure of it," he said. "Now let's figure out what we'd better do." "How about going ashore?" suggested Russ. "Never!" cried Ruth. "Why not?" "Oh, we don't know what sort of horrid things may be in the woods. It's safer in the boat." "You forget about the--" Alice began, but she did not finish. She had been about to say "manatees and alligators," but thought better of it. Instead she changed it to: "Well, I guess it's about six of one and half a dozen of the other." "Only, don't you think it's better to stay in the boat?" asked Ruth. "I suppose it is," agreed Alice. "It will be damp on the ground, and there is very little water in the boat." This was so because when it rained Russ and Paul had used a heavy canvas to cover up the provisions that were left, and this shed the water over the sides of the craft. "There's the moon!" suddenly called Mrs. Maguire, as she saw a flash of light between the trees. "I only wish it was the lantern of a searching party," sighed Ruth. "They probably will hunt for us," said Russ. "But whether they find us before morning is another matter."