Chapter 11, The Huckleberry Adventure.
One day in the summer the boys decided to go huckleberry picking.
A great clashing of pails could be heard all over Plumfield as they prepared for their adventure.
Jo laughed to herself.
They were making so much fuss, they may as well have been setting out to find the Northwest Passage.
"'Now,' she said to them, "'Rob's safely out of the way, so get off as quickly as you can.'
But the boys weren't quiet enough, and little Rob heard the noise and came scampering toward them, pale in hand.
Oh dear, Jo thought.
Now we'll have a scene.
She stepped forward and called out.
Come now, Rob.
It's too far to go.
You stay back with me.
Rob pouted.
You said I could go when I was bigger.
Now I'm bigger.
It's very far, Tommy said, and you might get tired.
Better that you stay back.
I won't get tired, Rob insisted.
I'll run and I'll keep up and I'll fill my pail and I'll bring all the berries to you.
The little boy's smile had all but disappeared.
Oh, please, he said.
I really want to go and I won't get tired, I won't.
Giant tears fell out of his eyes.
Jo couldn't stand the sight of any one of her boys being unhappy and so an idea came to her.
Wait here, boys.
I think I have a solution, one that will mean even Dan can go.
The boys stood holding their pans while Joe raced back into the house.
When she came back a few minutes later, she had a huge smile on her face.
Franz will take you up the hill in the wagon and then pick you up at the end of the day.
Dan, you may go as well, and be sure to let the girls take good care of you.
Nan, you're to keep an eye on Rob.
Rob threw himself on his mother in a fit of gratitude and promised to bring her back every berry he picked.
Soon they were all packed into the wagon, with Rob pleased as punch snuggled in between Nan and Daisy.
What a happy day they had, even if the picking didn't necessarily go as planned.
Tommy fell into a hornet's nest and was stung, but being used to such woes, he bore it gracefully.
Daisy saw a snake and it scared her so much that she threw her bucket in the air and lost most of her berries.
Being a kind brother, Demi helped her fill it back up again.
And Dan, who no longer needed his crutch, walked quietly among the hills and bushes, happy that his foot felt so much better.
But of all the adventures that happened that afternoon, the one that Nan and Rob found themselves in became one of Plumfield's best love stories.
Having explored far and wide, torn her dress in three different places and scratched her face.
While scrambling around in a barberry bush, Nan turned her attention to the huckleberries.
The big black bead-like berries hung low on the green bushes.
When her basket didn't fill quickly enough, Nan moved to a new bush with little Rob in tow.
I'm so tired, Rob said as his bucket toppled over.
I can't fill it up.
It's just too much.
Looking around, Nan said, Look, there's a cave over there.
Why don't we go hide and make everyone come looking for us?
We can pick more berries on the way.
And away they went, scrambling over a low stone wall and running down the hill until they were hidden among rocks and brush.
They came across a little spring and the two thirsty children drank a bit of cool water.
The shade was a relief after gathering berries in the hot sun.
Now, let's go rest in the cave and have our lunch, Nan said.
Rob asked, do you know the way back to the huckleberry field?
Of course I do, Nan answered.
And so the unlikely pair set off, with Rob scrambling to keep up with quick Nan.
They soon came to the cave Nan had spied earlier.
Isn't this nice?
Nan asked as she took out their lunch.
Yes, Rob nodded, and he took a bite of bread.
Do you think it'll take them long to find us?
Oh, they'll be here soon, I can feel it, Nan replied.
Rob looked around at the gloomy cave and said, What if they don't come?
Then we'll find our way back on our own.
Little five-year-old Rob was very tired and he wanted very much to find everyone and take the wagon home.
But he sat and waited patiently while Nan left the cave to gather even more berries.
The sun started to set and a mosquito bit him.
Then the frogs started to sing their evening songs.
Perhaps it will be dark soon, Rob called out.
Nan looked up from where she had been roaming about and noticed that it was indeed getting dark.
My, we'd better get going right away or they'll be gone.
She pulled Rob along behind her, back up the hill.
But as they came to the top, she wondered which way to go next.
Rob pointed his finger in exactly the wrong direction, and that was the path they took.
Over rock and stone, they listened for Franz's horn, but they didn't hear it, not once.
I don't remember that pile of stones, Nan said.
Do you?
I remember none, and I want to go home, Rob cried as he sat down on the ground in a tired fit.
Nansun sat next to him.
Oh, don't cry.
I'm going as fast as I can.
When we get to the road, I'll carry you.
Rob stuttered.
Where is the road?
Over by that big tree.
Don't you remember?
It's the one Nat fell out of.
They picked themselves up and trudged through a large pasture.
But when they got to the tree, they found that there was no road, nor was it the right tree.
I think maybe we should shout, Nan suggested.
They did as Nan said and hollered until their throats were dry and hoarse.
We're lost, Rob sobbed.
Only a little, Nan replied.
We can bunk here tonight and find our way home tomorrow.
I want to be home now.
Nan tried to comfort Rob by telling him all the fun things they could find to eat.
They even tried to light a fire by catching fireflies, which certainly didn't work.
When they tried to walk a bit further, Rob was so tired that he stumbled more than he stepped.
Nan suggested he lie down with his head in her lap, and she pulled her apron on top of him.
Soon both children were fast asleep.
Meanwhile, the boys had noticed that Nan and Rob were missing and set out to look for them.
The search team consisted of mainly the older boys, including Franz, Nat, Dan, and Tommy.
The wagon made a good circle of the area and arrived back at Plumfield.
"'Have they returned?'
Franz shouted.
Joe came running out.
"'No!'
Franz pulled up in front of the porch and said, "'I can't find them anywhere.'
Joe turned to Demi.
Go and get Uncle Bear and tell him to bring the lanterns.
We must get everyone out looking.
Franz set out again on the horse while Dan rode on Toby and Joe and Father Bear went on foot.
The moon was out now and lanterns could be seen up and down the fields.
They could have gone down to the spring, Dan shouted.
I'll go and see what I can find.
When they heard Dan shout again, the entire search party made their way over to him.
I can see little footprints here, he said.
A little farther on, Nan's hat and the top of a berry pail appeared.
Dan rode Toby out farther into the field and soon discovered Nan and Rob fast asleep on the other side of a big tree.
They're over here, he shouted, and soon the whole search party gathered around.
Rob's sleepy eyes opened and he shouted, Mama, Mama, I knew you would come and find me.
Jo hugged her little boy tightly as Dan gently woke up Nan, who cried at the relief of finally being rescued.
She sobbed and sobbed and she told Jo how sorry she was for getting lost.
Jo smiled and told her that no punishment would happen tonight.
She was just so pleased to have found them both.
Back at Plumfield, the children were fed a good supper and everyone fell into a deep sleep after such an active day.
The next morning, Nan had a headache and lay on Joe's sofa to rest.
Joe gently scolded her for getting lost and roaming away from the group.
She even told her stories about her own antics running away and getting lost as a girl.
Poor Nan learned her lesson.
She felt so terrible for almost losing Rob that in her heart she knew her wild ways must come to an end.
The excitement of Nan and Rob's adventure soon died down and Plumfield went back to its old routines.
Nan's newfound calmness was one cause of welcome peacefulness around the school, but another good influence soon came to stay.
Lori brought his beautiful little daughter, Bess, to visit for an entire week.
Everyone loved the little princess and described her as a mix between a fairy and an angel.
Dainty by nature.
Just having her around the boys calmed them down.
Bess didn't like shouting or fighting and she wouldn't let a single dirty finger touch her, which meant that the boys used a lot of soap that week.
Nothing hurt their feelings more than pretty Bess saying, Go away, dirty boy.
Despite Nan's recent good behavior.
The pretty Bess made her feel a little like a wild bird in a cage, so she tried even harder to be well-behaved.
Joe and Father Bear laughed about the change in everyone since Bess's arrival.
The children teach us quite a bit, don't they?
Jo said to her husband one afternoon.
They certainly do, and I am happy to see Bess bringing out the best in Nan, he replied.
It's nice to see everyone enjoying themselves, even if it's the calm before the storm, Jo said as she pulled the thread through a button she was sewing onto one of Tommy's shirts.
What fun they're all having in there.
Father Bear pointed to the playroom where Bess was riding on top of a wooden horse.
The boys had gathered their chairs around her and were playing the Knights of the Round Table.
Absolutely amazing what the imagination will come up with, isn't it, Joe said.
Father Bear smiled and squeezed his wife's shoulder.
The week with Bess flew by, and before they knew it, Lori was there to take her home.
Parting gifts from all the boys were showered down upon her.
White mice, a rabbit apples shells, flowers and minnows were all packed away in the carriage with care.
Even Nan, who hated embroidering, had worked her fingers to the bone, making a lovely bookmark for the little princess.
As the carriage slowly made its way down the driveway, the children chased after it, shouting Come back.
Come back! until their throats were hoarse and she was out of sight.
They all missed Bess in their own way and hoped they would see her again soon.
