their father had pointed out the dim path leading toward Chandler's
River, did they feel really sure that their father would not follow
them. But as they stopped for a brief rest under the shadow of a
wide-spreading beach tree Rebby said:

"Father could have overtaken us by this time, Danna, if he did not think
it was right for us to go."

Danna agreed cheerfully, and now both the girls felt a new courage for
this perilous undertaking that was sure to tax their strength to the
utmost. The fact that their father had not hastened after them made them
both realize how important it was that powder and shot should reach the
Machias settlement as soon as possible.

The faint path soon disappeared entirely, and had Rebby been alone she
would not have known which way to turn. But Anna went on confidently,
keeping a sharp outlook for the "blazed" trees of which her father had
told her as marking the way toward Chandler's River.

They forced their way through dense masses of tangled underbrush, over
fallen trees, and through the shadowy stretches of thickly growing pine.
Now and then they came to some marshy stretch, which Anna would
carefully avoid, for she remembered how often her father had warned her
of the dangers of such places, with their unmarked quicksands that would
quickly swallow the heedless person who ventured upon them.

Notwithstanding Anna's caution in regard to resting frequently they
pushed on steadily, with but one stop until the sound of water as it
dashed over a rocky bed warned them that they were near Whitneyville
Falls, and half-way to their destination.

The sun was now directly overhead, and as they came out from the shade
of the forest to the open space along the river's bank Rebby sank down
on the grass with a long breath of relief.

"I never was so tired in all my life," she declared.

"We will take a good rest and eat our corn-bread," responded Anna. "I am
sure the remainder of the way will not be so hard, because we can follow
the river up to the settlement."

Rebby was too tired to reply. She stretched herself out on the warm
grass and closed her eyes.

"Poor Rebby," thought Danna, looking down at her elder sister and
remembering that Rebecca had never enjoyed woodland tramps, and
realizing that this undertaking was much harder for her sister than for
herself.

"She's asleep," Anna whispered to herself, with a little smile of
satisfaction. "Now I will have a fine surprise for her wh