Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/183

 “Stop that mistering me,” grumbled Abner, yet much pleased with Stanley’s frank admission. “Mebbe we can teach ye something after all. Seems if he was improving, Bub.”

“He picks up every minute,” heartily cried Bub, glad to give his friend a boost. “Now for the homeward trail.”

Stanley happened to be the first to find the end of the blaze and as he gazed down the slope he was amazed. It did not seem possible that the white spots on the trees could indicate the path they made in ascending. Where was the ridge they had so easily traversed? Gone. Aside from the blazed trail there was nothing to indicate Where they should descend. What seemed to be a ridge led off at different places and split up into other ridges, any of which might be the right one so far as Stanley could determine. It was all open before them; in coming up they had had the black growth to aim at.

“It beats me,” he cried, rubbing his head in perplexity.

“Turn ’round and look back,” suggested Abner.

He did so. “Why, it’s our ridge; the way is perfectly plain,” he cried. And he wheeled quickly as if expecting to catch the ledge as