"It was no trouble, I am sure,--no trouble whatever," he said, adding as though he wished to change the subject: "You didn't tell me your name--" he hesitated, looking at Betty, who of course did tell him her name on the spot. This proved a signal for mutual introductions, and the girls learned that their new friend was a college professor, Arnold Dempsey by name. They also learned that he had taken up woodcraft in the hope of recovering his health. And while they contentedly munched sandwiches and sipped steaming coffee the girls learned a good deal more about Arnold Dempsey, and the more they learned of him the more they felt drawn to him. And when he started to tell them of his two sons who had fought so nobly in the army of democracy, their eyes began to shine and they leaned toward him with an interest that was intensely real. "Oh, it must be wonderful to have two big soldier sons," cried Amy, forgetting her shyness in her enthusiasm. "Aren't you dreadfully proud?" A gleam came into Professor Dempsey's eyes and his thin shoulders straightened. "Yes, yes," he said. "Of course I'm proud of my boys--very proud. And I hope," a look of absolute happiness came into his eyes and he smiled contentedly, "that before very long I shall see them." "Oh, I'm sure you will!" cried Betty eagerly. "That's what we are all hoping for, anyway," said Grace, adding with a sigh: "The boys have been gone so _dreadfully_ long." "Look," cried Mollie presently, rising suddenly to her feet and pointing toward the window. "We have been so busy talking that we never noticed the sun had come out." "And doesn't it look good!" exulted Betty. In spite of their reluctance to leave their new-found friend, the girls were anxious to be off, for they knew their parents would be worrying about them. Professor Dempsey insisted on seeing them safely back to the road although they protested that there was absolutely no need of it. "There are two or three paths that lead to the road," he explained, as he flung wide the door, letting in a flood of sunshine, "and I wouldn't have you lose your way for the world--not for the world!" The woodland was beautiful after the rain, and the girls sniffed the fragrant air eagerly as they followed Professor Dempsey along the path. It was not till they had almost reached the road that Mollie had a disquieting thought. "How do we know but what we're stuck here for good?" she asked the girls. "The car stopped dead, you remember, just under that horrible tree, and I'm sure I don't know what in the world made it. If I can't find out the trouble--" "Oh, but you've got to find it," protested Grace, while Betty and Amy looked worried. "We can't stay here all night, and it may be a dozen miles to the nearest garage." "I know that just as well as you do," grumbled Mollie. "But if I can't, I can't, that's all."