I do n't like to be lost , '' and Rob puckered up his face to cry , when suddenly a thought occurred to him , and he said , in a tone of perfect confidence , `` Marmar will come and find me she always does ; I ai n't afraid now . '' `` She wo n't know where we are . '' `` She did n't know I was shut up in the ice-house , but she found me . I know she 'll come , '' returned Robby , so trustfully , that Nan felt relieved , and sat down by him , saying , with a remorseful sigh , `` I wish we had n't run away . '' `` You made me ; but I do n't mind much Marmar will love me just the same , '' answered Rob , clinging to his sheet-anchor when all other hope was gone . `` I 'm so hungry . Let 's eat our berries , '' proposed Nan , after a pause , during which Rob began to nod . `` So am I , but I ca n't eat mine , 'cause I told Marmar I 'd keep them all for her . '' `` You 'll have to eat them if no one comes for us , '' said Nan , who felt like contradicting every thing just then . `` If we stay here a great many days , we shall eat up all the berries in the field , and then we shall starve , '' she added grimly . `` I shall eat sassafras . I know a big tree of it , and Dan told me how squirrels dig up the roots and eat them , and I love to dig , '' returned Rob , undaunted by the prospect of starvation . `` Yes ; and we can catch frogs , and cook them . My father ate some once , and he said they were nice , '' put in Nan , beginning to find a spice of romance even in being lost in a huckleberry pasture . `` How could we cook frogs ? we have n't got any fire . '' `` I do n't know ; next time I 'll have matches in my pocket , '' said Nan , rather depressed by this obstacle to the experiment in frog-cookery . `` Could n't we light a fire with a fire-fly ? '' asked Rob , hopefully , as he watched them flitting to and fro like winged sparks . `` Let 's try ; '' and several minutes were pleasantly spent in catching the flies , and trying to make them kindle a green twig or two .
`` It 's a lie to call them fire-flies when there is n't a fire in them , '' XXXXX said , throwing one unhappy insect away with scorn , though it shone its best , and obligingly walked up and down the twigs to please the innocent little experimenters .
Dan Nan Rob Robby days ice-house minutes sheet-anchor squirrels starvation