They supposed themselves to be going in the direction of the house where the wagons were left; but, after all, they were not quite sure of the way. It might be some other road altogether. They had been over the Scott’s Bay road once or twice before, but it would not have been familiar even by daylight, while in such gloom as this, no road, however familiar, could be recognized. As they went they peered anxiously through the gloom, in hopes of seeing cultivated fields, or houses. But nothing of the kind appeared to their anxious eyes. They also looked forward with straining eyes, and listened with the closest attention, in hopes of meeting with some people who might make them acquainted with their actual position. But nothing could be either seen or heard in front, and so they had nothing else to do than to walk on as quickly as their wearied limbs would allow. At length they heard the sound of voices ahead, and footsteps, which seemed to approach them. They stood and waited. Soon a number of figures appeared, rendered gigantic by the mist and darkness. The boys hurried towards them, and Bruce at once addressed the foremost figure. The foremost figure at the same instant addressed Bruce. And both asked exactly the same question, or rather part of what would evidently have been the same question if it had been finished. It was,-- _Bruce_. “Will you be kind enough to tell me--” _Foremost Figure._ “Will you have the goodness to tell me--” Here the questions broke off abruptly. And turned to,-- _Bruce._ “Hallo!” _Foremost Figure._ “Why! What’s this!” _Bruce._ “Dr. Porter!!!” _Foremost Figure._ “Bruce Rawdon!!!” For a few moments both parties were overwhelmed with utter bewilderment and a total prostration of all their faculties. This amazing and incomprehensible reunion of those who had parted five hours ago in the wild woods, by the lofty precipice and the thundering surf, going in exactly opposite directions, yet coming together in darkness and fog, was a thing which might well reduce them to complete stupefaction. Then there arose a general uproar of questions, each party asking the other where they had been, and where they supposed themselves to be now, and where they thought they were going. “This is a most incomprehensible thing!” said the doctor. “How long have you been on the road, sir?” “Not over a quarter of an hour.” “Have you been in the woods all the time?” “Yes, walking steadily in this direction.” “And could you manage to keep a straight course?” “O, yes.” “You didn’t walk along the cliff--did you, sir?” “O, no.” “I don’t see how you managed to go on straight when you were in the woods.”