"I wouldn't," declared Ruth, decidedly.

Breakfast over, the blankets and cushions of the boat were spread out in
the sun to dry, for they were damp from the rain and dew.

"And now the question is--what are we to do?" asked Mrs. Maguire. "We
don't want to spend another night in the woods if we can help it."

"I should say not!" cried Russ. "We'll start off in a little while and
make our way back to the steamer."

"Can you find it?" asked Ruth.

"Well, it can't be so very far off," spoke Russ, evasively. "The trouble
is there are so many twists and turns to these creeks and rivers that we
lost our way. I wish I had thought to bring a compass but, since we
didn't, we'll have to go by the sun. I think the steamer lies in that
general neighborhood," and he pointed in a south-easterly direction.

"I think so, too," agreed Paul. "And if we row that way I think we'll get
back."

Alice, who had gone over to the sunny spot where the blankets and
cushions had been put to dry, uttered an exclamation.

"Look!" she cried, and when Paul reached her side she pointed to some
bright red spots on the leaves.

"That's blood!" cried the young actor. "Russ, you winged that beast last