t cut across
the country from the place where they then were to that where the rushes
grew. A hill rose up close to the creek, and they were certain that if
they went round it they should find the water on the other side. The
sky was covered with clouds and the sun was not to be seen, so that
there were no shadows to guide them. They walked on and on, thinking
each moment that they should reach the river. Little Bill was sure that
they could not have made a mistake, and ran on before his sisters
shouting out, "Come on, Nancy; come on, Mary." The girls followed as
fast as they could, but there were no signs of the creek. They began to
be puzzled. Nancy fancied that Bill must have made a mistake. "No, no;
it's farther off than I thought, that's all," said Bill. "We shan't
find it by standing still."

Bill was a sturdy little chap, though so young. "Mary bery, bery
tired," cried the youngest girl. She couldn't speak plain, she was so
young.

"Well, sit down, little one, and rest, and we'll see what we've got for
you," said Bill, in an encouraging tone--he dearly loved little Mary.
He searched in his pockets and brought out some cold damper and cheese,
and some biscuit and raisins, and several other articles. The children
all sat down and feasted off the food. It revived them.

"We must get on now," said Nancy, rising. "O Bill, where can we have
got to?"

"All right," answered Bill, "we shall find the water in ten minutes;
only we must keep moving." They went on again for ten minutes, twenty,
thirty, an hour or more. Bill at last began to cry and wring his hands.
"Oh dear, oh dear, we have lost our way!"

"I was afraid so, long ago," said Nancy. "All we've to do is to try and
find it."

That was more easily said than done. Nancy felt very anxious, but she
kept her thoughts to herself, for fear of frightening Bill and Mary.

Bill had kept up bravely till now, but little Mary already looked very
tired. Nancy took her hand and led her on. Bill then took her up on
his back, but he had not gone far when he had to ask her if she was not
rested. His legs and back ached; he put her down. She could run on a
little way she thought. She soon, however, again said she was tired,
and Nancy took her up; but poor Nancy could not carry her far, for Mary
was a fat, heavy child. Where they had got to, Nancy could not tell.
Time went by, too, faster than they thought. It got dusk, and there
were no signs of th