ping children, he hastened to rejoin the
party and to tell the joyful news that the little ones were found.

When the crowd of torch-bearers hastened to the spot and gathered about
the wanderers, Prue and Hi sat up and rubbed their eyes, evidently
wondering what had caused such a commotion. [Illustration: As the smoke
blew backward, the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children]

"How did ye git lost?" asked a farmer of Prue.

"We wasn't lost," answered Prue, "How could we be lost when we knew where
we was going? We was going to Boston to my Randy, and we're 'most to the
cars, but we're just resting a little while first."

To Uncle Joshua Babson, little Hi looked for pardon for this latest prank.

"I wasn't naughty _this_ time," he said, "I knew the way to Boston, and
Prue felt so lonesome 'thout Randy that I was goin' ter take her there."

"Never mind that, my boy," Uncle Joshua answered, "the main thing is ter
git ye home, an' stop yer mother's frettin'. She's in the mood ter forgive
most anything, sence yer safe and sound."

Tired little Prue lay in her father's arms, crying softly, her face hidden
upon his breast.

"There, there, don't cry, Prue, ye're all safe now. See, I have ye in my
arms, an' soon we'll be home with mother an' Aunt Prudence."

"But if you take me home now," wailed Prue, "it'll be to-morrow 'fore I
could start again to find Randy, and we meaned to get there to-night."

"But mother's 'bout sick a worryin' sence ye went off with Hi and didn't
tell where ye was goin'. Did ye think of it, Prue, that mother misses
Randy, so couldn't spare ye, too?"

"Oh, I never thought," Prue answered, "I wanted to see my Randy, but I
didn't 'member that if I went to Boston there wouldn't be any girls 't all
in our house."

With his lantern on his arm and his little daughter clasped to his breast,
Mr. Weston tramped along the rough road escorted by two neighbors who with
their torches made a path of light before him. As they reached the house,
two white-faced women saw them, but while Aunt Prudence hastened to open
the door Mrs. Weston drew back.

"Alive or,--"

"I want some supper," exclaimed a very energetic little voice and the
mother sprang forward to take her lost one in her arms.

"Oh Prue, don't ye leave us again," she cried, her tears dropping upon the
soft curls.

"But I was going to get my Randy and bring her home to you," said Prue,
"and I forgot that when I was away to Randy's there w