Mr.Hallam had taken Tom some distance up the stream for a comfortable little fish by themselves, and left the girls to prepare supper, with strict injunctions not to go out of sight of the tents.
They were very well content with the arrangement for a while, but at last Gypsy became tired of having nothing but the trees to look at, and suggested a visit to the brook.

She had seen some checker-berry leaves growing in the gorge, and was seized with a fancy to have them for supper.
Sarah, as usual, made no objections, and they went.
"It's only just out of sight of the tent," said Gypsy, as they ran down over the loose stones; "and we won't be gone but a minute." But they were gone many minutes.

They had little idea how long the time had been, and were surprised to find it growing rapidly dark in the forest when they came panting back to the tent, out of breath with the haste they had made.
"They must be back by this time," said Gypsy; "Tom!" There was no answer.
"Tom! Thom-as! Mr.Hallam!" A bird chirped in a maple-bough overhead, and a spark cracked out of the smouldering hickory fire; there was no other sound.
"I guess they're busy in their tent," said Gypsy, going up to it.

But the tent was empty.
"They haven't come!" exclaimed Sarah.
"It's real mean in them to leave us here," said Gypsy, looking round among the trees.
"You know," suggested Sarah, timidly, "you know Mr.Hallam said we were to stay at the tents.

Perhaps they came while we were gone, and couldn't find us, and have gone to hunt us up." "Oh!" said Gypsy, quickly, "I forgot." She turned away her face a moment, so that Sarah could not see it; then she turned back, and said, slowly,-- "Sarah, I'm very sorry I took you off.