had guided us with a careless confidence which shamed suspicion.
But coming back, she had early displayed unmistakable signs of
hesitation and anxiety. Thereafter she had plunged desperately,
with the result that at three o'clock we found ourselves reduced
to a swine-herd who had been drinking. The latter detailed to
us four several routes, and assured us that it was utterly
impossible to miss any one of them.

To put it quite shortly, he was mistaken.

Within half an hour we had missed them all. Lost on a heath
(which I have every reason to suppose was blasted) in a strange
county, and not a soul in sight. That was the position.

We plodded in silence across the meadow.

"Didn't say anything about a bog, did he? said Berry, drawing his
left leg out of some mire with a noise that made me shudder.
Jill slid a warm arm into mine, and broke into long laughter.

"Don't encourage the fool," said Daphne.

We skirted the wood successfully to find that there never could
have been a cart-track.

Berry leaned against a wall of stones." What a picture," he said
ecstatically. "The setting sun, the little band, the matron and
the maid, mist rising, shadows falling- subject for next year's
Academy, 'The Walkers.'"