uld
turn and see them enter the woods; but no, they were passing along
quietly, and the three darted in, and felt that they had escaped a great
misfortune. For a long time they kept the road in sight, then, without
them knowing how, it disappeared from view, although they believed that
they had been keeping a straight course. It seemed to have grown
suddenly dark, and there was the low rumbling of thunder.

"That is the reason that it is growing dark; a storm is coming up,"
remarked Paul. "We must have a place of shelter. Let us hurry to the
road, and it may be that we will see a house or barn."

It was raining fast by this time. It had not occurred to them to take
their rain-coats from their knapsacks, but trudged along in the
downpour, the woods now so dark that they could scarcely see each other.

"I wish I had something to eat," said Fritz. "I am as hungry as a wolf."

"And I," seconded Franz.

"And I," agreed Paul.

"Follow me, and we will soon be out of this dark woods," commanded
Fritz.

The others obeyed, stumbling over stones, tripping over roots, and
running against stumps and briars; but they kept along cheerfully,
believing that they would soon reach the road where it would not be so
dark.

"I wish I had a piece of that cake that Uncle Braun bought for us the
day we went to the tower," remarked Fritz.

"Oh, don't speak of it! It makes me hungrier than ever," said Paul.

"Oh, boys, I see a light, a dim one, but it may be in a house, and the
people will give us something to eat. I told you I would lead you right
if you would follow me."

"If it is a house, and they will give us some straw to sleep on, we will
not try to reach the village where we were to stay all night, for I
believe it is growing late," suggested Paul.

"Oh, we have come to a swamp," cried Fritz. "Halt! my shoes are full of
water. Now one of them has come off, and is sticking in the mud."

"Here it is," said Paul as he pulled it out, "take it and put it on."

"But I can't stand and put it on. What shall I do?"

"You cannot sit down in the swamp, that is certain. Here, Franz, do you
get on one side of him and I on the other and we will hold him up while
he puts it on. Now, Fritz, hurry."

Fritz took his shoe, shook out the water, and tried his best to make it
go on, but without success. His comrades on either side put out a
helping hand, but lost their balance, and all three sat down suddenly in
the swamp.

"Now we are we