`` No matter , we will poke about a little , and call some more ; and then , if nobody comes , we will hide under the bushes , like Hop - ` o-my-thumb and his brothers . '' It was a very short walk , however , for Rob was so sleepy he could not get on , and tumbled down so often that Nan entirely lost patience , being half distracted by the responsibility she had taken upon herself . `` If you tumble down again , I 'll shake you , '' she said , lifting the poor little man up very kindly as she spoke , for Nan 's bark was much worse than her bite . `` Please do n't . It 's my boots they keep slipping so ; '' and Rob manfully checked the sob just ready to break out , adding , with a plaintive patience that touched Nan 's heart , `` If the skeeters did n't bite me so , I could go to sleep till Marmar comes . '' `` Put your head on my lap , and I 'll cover you up with my apron ; I 'm not afraid of the night , '' said Nan , sitting down and trying to persuade herself that she did not mind the shadow nor the mysterious rustlings all about her . `` Wake me up when she comes , '' said rob , and was fast asleep in five minutes with his head in Nan 's lap under the pinafore . The little girl sat for some fifteen minutes , staring about her with anxious eyes , and feeling as if each second was an hour . Then a pale light began to glimmer over the hill-top and she said to herself , `` I guess the night is over and morning is coming . I 'd like to see the sun rise , so I 'll watch , and when it comes up we can find our way right home . '' But before the moon 's round face peeped above the hill to destroy her hope , Nan had fallen asleep , leaning back in a little bower of tall ferns , and was deep in a mid-summer night 's dream of fire-flies and blue aprons , mountains of huckleberries , and Robby wiping away the tears of a black cow , who sobbed , `` I want to go home ! I want to go home ! '' While the children were sleeping , peacefully lulled by the drowsy hum of many neighborly mosquitoes , the family at home were in a great state of agitation . The hay-cart came at five , and all but Jack , Emil , Nan , and Rob were at the bars ready for it . Franz drove instead of Silas , and when the boys told him that the others were going home through the wood , he said , looking ill-pleased , `` They ought to have left Rob to ride , he will be tired out by the long walk . '' `` It 's shorter that way , and they will carry him , '' said Stuffy , who was in a hurry for his supper . `` You are sure Nan and Rob went with them ? '' `` Of course they did ; I saw them getting over the wall , and sung out that it was most five , and Jack called back that they were going the other way , '' explained Tommy . `` Very well , pile in then , '' and away rattled the hay-cart with the tired children and the full pails . Mrs. Jo looked sober when she heard of the division of the party , and sent Franz back with Toby to find and bring the little ones home .
Supper was over , and the family sitting about in the cool hall as usual , when XXXXX came trotting back , hot , dusty , and anxious .
Franz Jack Robby Silas Stuffy fire-flies minutes morning rustlings second