She, unwomanlike, did not like the idea of his yielding to this reluctance to go.  “He was ready, nothing detained him, why not have the final pain of going over at once?”

He made no reply, but lounged restlessly about.

At about nine o’clock George came bursting in, with his eyes flashing, and his golden hair wet with perspiration; and catching his breath, and reducing and restraining his voice, cried out:  “Julia Markham is lost in the woods, and they can’t find her!” The words struck Bart like electricity, and at once made him his best self.

“Lost, George?” taking him by both hands, and speaking coolly, “tell me all about it.”

A few great gasps had relieved George, and the cool, firm hands of Bart had fully restored his quick wits.

“She and Nell Roberts had been to Coe’s, and Orville started to go home with Julia, and he did go down to Judge Markham’s fields, where he left her.”

“Well?”

“She did not go home, nor anywhere, and they have been looking for her, all through the woods, everywhere.”

“All through what woods, Georgie?”

“Down between Coe’s and the State road.”

“They will never find her there; there is a new chopping, back of Judge Markham’s fields, which she mistook for the fields, and when she found out the mistake she turned back to the old road, and I will wager the world that she went into ‘the woods,’ confused and lost.”  After a moment—­“Mother, put some of your wine in my hunting-flask, and give me something that can be eaten.  Edward, bring me two of those bundles of hickory; and George, let me have your hatchet and belt.”

He spoke in his ordinary voice, but he looked like one inspired.  Throwing off his coat, and arraying himself in a red “wamus,” and replacing his boots with heavy, close-fitting brogans, he was ready.

“Boys,” said he, “go about and notify all in the neighborhood to meet at Markham’s, at daylight; and tell them for God’s sake, if she is not found, to form a line, and sweep through the west woods.  If I am not back by daylight, push out and do all you can.  Mother, don’t be anxious for me.  If it storms and grows cold, you know I am a born woodsman.  I know now what kept me.”

“I am anxious, Barton, only that you may find her.  God go with you!”

With the other things, Edward placed in his hands a long wax taper, made for the sugar camp, lighted, and with a kiss to his mother, and a cheery good-night to the boys, he sprang out.

As Julia did not return at dark, her father and mother supposed she had stopped with Nell Roberts.  Mrs. Markham remembered the adventure which signalized her last walk from Coe’s, and was anxious; and the Judge went down to Roberts’s for her.  Nell had been home one hour, and said Orville had gone home with Julia.  A messenger was hurried off to Coe’s, and word was sent through the neighborhood, to call out the men and boys.  It had been years since an alarm and a hunt for the lost had occurred.  The messenger returned with young Coe, who said that he went with Miss Markham to within sight of her father’s fields, when she insisted that he should return, and he did.