42 WITH CARL OF THE HILL 



no answer they thought she was probably hunting for 

 butterflies or flowers, for she had always been a self- 

 reliant little creature. And as they were hungry they 

 presently had dinner and then went out to play 

 again, forgetting all about her. It was not until the 

 evening was drawing on that they began again to 

 wonder where she was, and then to feel really 

 unhappy. 



Carl came back soon after sundown and found his 

 wife was just arrived. " Where was Sunlight ? " The 

 boys could not tell him, though they told him all they 

 knew. He thought it very strange, but fancying she 

 might only be hiding in play, or perhaps preparing 

 some pretty surprise for him, he shouted out her name, 

 saying it was getting too late for little girls to be out 

 and that she must come in at once. To all this there 

 was no answer. So then he brought out his hunting- 

 bugle and blew clear and long the supper-time call 

 which the children and the foresters knew quite well. 

 Through the clear air that sound would travel a mile 

 and more; but neither to this — though he waited 

 through an anxious half-hour — was there any re- 

 sponse. And then he thought she must be lost, 

 though he could not understand it : she knew 

 the forest for a mile around so well. Though 



