when the parents and brother of nellie ribsam reached the forks a few minutes later, they saw nothing of the three parties whom they expected to meet there.

"they have gone on to the woods to look for nellie," said the father.

"they cannot be far off," suggested nick, turning to the left.

all were too anxious to lose a minute, and they started after their friends on a rapid walk, nick taking the lead, and now and then dropping into a loping trot, which he would have increased had he been alone.

a chill seemed to settle over all as they reached the deep shadow of the woods, which was one of the largest tracts of forest in that section of the country.

the road which bisected them was fully eight miles in length, as has already been stated, while the forest was much greater in extent in the other direction.

being of such large area, there were necessarily many portions which rarely if ever were visited by hunters. years before an occasional deer had been shot, and a few of the old settlers told of the thrilling bear hunts they had enjoyed when they were not so very much younger than now.

those who were capable of judging were certain that if the gloomy depths were explored these dreaded animals would be met; but if such were the fact, the beasts were so few in number that no one gave them a thought.

it was now four miles to shark creek, and, by common consent, it was agreed that the missing nellie must be found, if found at all, before reaching the stream.

as this creek was deep enough to drown any person who could not swim, not to mention the large pond into which it emptied, every one of the searchers felt a vague, awful dread that poor nellie had fallen into the water.

no one spoke of it, but the thought was there all the same.

shortly after entering the wood, nick called attention to two star-like points of light twinkling ahead of them.

"they are the lanterns of mr. layton and kilgore," said nick, who immediately added, "we forgot to stop and get mr. marston."

"that is too bad, but it isn't worth while to go back now," replied his father, hardly slackening his gait.

as the lantern which mrs. ribsam had handed to her husband was lighted before leaving home, the men in advance detected it immediately after they were seen themselves, and the halloo of the teacher was answered by nick.

"have you found anything of nellie?" asked the mother, in broken english, as soon as the parties came together.

"it could scarcely be expected," answered the instructor, in a kindly voice; "we have just got here, and have only looked along the road. i have little doubt that she is soundly sleeping somewhere not far off."

while all stood still, the father lifted up his voice, and in clear, penetrating tones called the name of his missing child:

"nellie!"

the ticking of the big watch in the pocket of nick was plainly heard as the little company awaited the answering call of the child.

but it came not, and three times more was the name of the missing girl repeated by the father, who broke down completely the last time.

nick now joined his thumb and finger against the end of his tongue, and emitted a blast like that of a steam whistle. it resounded among the trees, and then followed the same oppressive stillness as before.

it was useless to remain where they were any longer, and, without a word, the five moved on. the three lamps were swung above their heads, and they peered into the gloomy depths on the right and left.

nick, as might have been expected, kept the advance, and his father allowed him to carry the lantern. as the other lights were behind the lad, the latter saw his huge shadow continually dancing in front and taking all manner of grotesque shapes, while, if the others had looked to the rear, they would have seen the same spectacle, as it affected their own figures.

"wait!" suddenly called out the father, who was now obliged to use his broken english, "mebbe my nellie she does hears me."

thereupon he called to her as before, nick ending the appeal with an ear-splitting whistle, which must have been heard several miles on such a still night.

not the slightest result followed, and with heavy hearts the little company moved on again.

"i think," said mr. layton, "that she has turned aside, where, possibly, some faint path has caught her eye, and it may be that we may discover the spot."

"let's look here!"

it was the mother who spoke this time, and, as they turned toward her, she was seen bending over the ground at the side of the highway, where something had arrested her attention.

instantly all the lanterns were clustered about the spot, and it was seen that the eyes of affection had detected just such a place as that named by the teacher. persons who walked along the road were accustomed to turn aside into the woods, and the five now did the same, moving slowly, with the lanterns held close to the earth, and then swung aloft, while all eyes were peering into the portions penetrated by the yellow rays.

the path was followed some fifty yards, when, to the disappointment of all, it came back to the road: it was one of those whimsical footways often met in the country, the person who started it having left the highway without any real reason for doing so.

again the name of the missing nellie was repeated, and again the woods sent back nothing but the echo.

"hark!"

it was the quick-eared nick who spoke, just as the hum of conversation began, and all listened.

as they did so the rattle of wheels was heard coming from the direction of dunbarton. the peculiar noise enabled the friends to recognize it as made by a heavy, lumbering farmer's wagon. the team was proceeding on a walk.

a few minutes later some one shouted:

"halloo, there! what's the matter?"

the voice was recognized as that of mr. marston, whom they intended to ask to join them.

instantly a hope was aroused that he might be able to tell them something of nellie. mr. layton called back, saying they were friends, and asking whether the farmer had seen anything of nellie ribsam.

at this mr. marston whipped up his horses, which were showing some fear of the twinkling lanterns, and halted when opposite to the party of searchers.

"my gracious! is she lost?" asked the good man, forgetting the anguish of his friends in his own curiosity.

"yes, she started up this road this afternoon toward dunbarton to meet her brother, who was returning, but, somehow or other, missed him, and we are all anxious about her."

"my gracious alive! i should think you would be: it would drive my wife and me crazy if our lizzie should be lost in the woods."

"i suppose, from the way you talk," continued the teacher, "that you have seen nothing of her?"

"no, i wish i had, for i tell you these woods are a bad place for a little girl to get lost in. last march, when we had an inch of snow on the ground, i seen tracks that i knowed was made by a bear, and a mighty big one, too, and—"

but just then a half-smothered moan from the mother warned the thoughtless neighbor that he was giving anything but comfort to the afflicted parents.

"i beg pardon," he hastened to say, in an awkward attempt to apologize; "come to think, i am sure that it wasn't a bear, but some big dog; you know a large dog makes tracks which can be mistook very easy for those of a bear. i'll hurry on home and put up my team and git the lantern and come back and help you."

and mr. marston, who meant well, whipped up his horses, and his wagon rattled down the road as he hastened homeward.