Becky gave loose to tears and wailings. Tom did what he could to comfort her, but with little effect. At length Becky said:

     "Tom!"

     "Well, Becky?"

     "They'll miss us and hunt for us!"

     "Yes, they will! Certainly they will!"

     "Maybe they're hunting for us now, Tom."

     "Why, I reckon maybe they are. I hope they are."

     "When would they miss us, Tom?"

     "When they get back to the boat, I reckon."

     "Tom, it might be dark then--would they notice we hadn't come?"

     "I don't know. But anyway, your mother would miss you as soon as they got home."