"You say there's not a man in the party who knows anything about the wilderness, and that they've got just enough woods sense to take them to the ford.

Well, that has its saving grace, because now and then, the Lord seems to watch over fool men.

The best of hunters are trapped sometimes in the forest, when fellows who don't know a deer from a beaver, go through 'em without harm." "Then if there's any virtue in what you say we'll pray that these men are the biggest fools who ever lived." "Smoke! smoke again!" called Robert cheerily, pointing straight ahead.
Sure enough, that long dark thread appeared once more, now against the western sky.

Willet laughed.
"They're the biggest fools in the forest, just as you hoped, Captain," he said, "and they've taken no more harm than if they had built their fires in a Philadelphia street.

They've set themselves down for the night, as peaceful and happy as you please.