“Ofcoursetheydid；Isawthemgettingoverthewall，andsungoutthatitwasmostfive，andJackcalledbackthattheyweregoingtheotherway，“explainedTommy。
“Verywell，pileinthen，“andawayrattledthehay-cartwiththetiredchildrenandthefullpails。
Mrs。Jolookedsoberwhensheheardofthedivisionoftheparty，andsentFranzbackwithTobytofindandbringthelittleoneshome。Supperwasover，andthefamilysittingaboutinthecoolhallasusual，whenFranzcametrottingback，hot，dusty，andanxious。
“Havetheycome？“hecalledoutwhenhalf-wayuptheavenue。
“No!“andMrs。JoflewoutofherchairlookingsoalarmedthateveryonejumpedupandgatheredroundFranz。
“Ican’tfindthemanywhere，“hebegan；butthewordswerehardlyspokenwhenaloud“Hullo!“startledthemall，andthenextminuteJackandEmilcameroundthehouse。
“WhereareNanandRob？“criedMrs。Jo，clutchingEmilinawaythatcausedhimtothinkhisaunthadsuddenlylostherwits。
“Idon’tknow。Theycamehomewiththeothers，didn’tthey？“heanswered，quickly。
“No；GeorgeandTommysaidtheywentwithyou。“
“Well，theydidn’t。Haven’tseenthem。Wetookaswiminthepond，andcamebythewood，“saidJack，lookingalarmed，aswellhemight。
“CallMr。Bhaer，getthelanterns，andtellSilasIwanthim。“
ThatwasallMrs。Josaid，buttheyknewwhatshemeant，andflewtoobeyherorders。Intenminutes，Mr。BhaerandSilaswereofftothewood，andFranztearingdowntheroadonoldAndytosearchthegreatpasture。
Mrs。Jocaughtupsomefoodfromthetable，alittlebottleofbrandyfromthemedicine-closet，tookalantern，andbiddingJackandEmilcomewithher，andtherestnotstir，shetrottedawayonToby，neverstoppingforhatorshawl。Sheheardsomeonerunningafterher，butsaidnotawordtill，asshepausedtocallandlisten，thelightofherlanternshoneonDan’sface。
“Youhere!ItoldJacktocome，“shesaid，half-inclinedtosendhimback，muchassheneededhelp。
“Iwouldn’tlethim；heandEmilhadn’thadanysupper，andIwantedtocomemorethantheydid，“hesaid，takingthelanternfromherandsmilingupinherfacewiththesteadylookinhiseyesthatmadeherfeelasif，boythoughhewas，shehadsomeonetodependon。
Offshejumped，andorderedhimontoToby，inspiteofhispleadingtowalk；thentheywentonagainalongthedusty，solitaryroad，stoppingeverynowandthentocallandhearkenbreathlesslyforlittlevoicestoreply。
Whentheycametothegreatpasture，otherlightswerealreadyflittingtoandfrolikewill-o’-the-wisps，andMr。Bhaer’svoicewasheardshouting，“Nan!Rob!Rob!Nan!“ineverypartofthefield。Silaswhistledandroared，DanplungedhereandthereonToby，whoseemedtounderstandthecase，andwentovertheroughestplaceswithunusualdocility。OftenMrs。Johushedthemall，saying，withasobinherthroat，“Thenoisemayfrightenthem，letmecall；Robbywillknowmyvoice；“andthenshewouldcryoutthebelovedlittlenameineverytoneoftenderness，tilltheveryechoeswhispereditsoftly，andthewindsseemedtowaftitwillingly；
butstillnoanswercame。
Theskywasovercastnow，andonlybriefglimpsesofthemoonwereseen，heat-lighteningdartedoutofthedarkcloudsnowandthen，andafaintfar-offrumbleasofthundertoldthatasummer-stormwasbrewing。
“OmyRobby!myRobby!“mournedpoorMrs。Jo，wanderingupanddownlikeapaleghost，whileDankeptbesideherlikeafaithfulfire-fly。
“WhatshallIsaytoNan’sfatherifshecomestoharm？WhydidIevertrustmydarlingsofaraway？Fritz，doyouhearanything？“andwhenamournful，“No“cameback，shewrungherhandssodespairinglythatDansprungdownfromToby’sback，tiedthebridletothebars，andsaid，inhisdecidedway，­；
“Theymayhavegonedownthespring­；I’mgoingtolook。“
Hewasoverthewallandawaysofastthatshecouldhardlyfollowhim；
butwhenshereachedthespot，heloweredthelanternandshowedherwithjoythemarksoflittlefeetinthesoftgroundaboutthespring。Shefelldownonherkneestoexaminethetracks，andthensprungup，sayingeagerly，­；
“Yes；thatisthemarkofmyRobby’slittleboots!Comethisway，theymusthavegoneon。“
Suchawearysearch!Butnowsomeinexplicableinstinctseemedtoleadtheanxiousmother，forpresentlyDanutteredacry，andcaughtupalittleshiningobjectlyinginthepath。Itwasthecoverofthenewtinpail，droppedinthefirstalarmofbeinglost。Mrs。Johuggedandkisseditasifitwerealivingthing；andwhenDanwasabouttoutteragladshouttobringtheotherstothespot，shestoppedhim，saying，asshehurriedon，“No，letmefindthem；IletRobgo，andIwanttogivehimbacktohisfatherallmyself。“
AlittlefartheronNan’shatappeared，andafterpassingtheplacemorethanonce，theycameatlastuponthebabesinthewood，bothsoundasleep。Danneverforgotthelittlepictureonwhichthelightofhislanternshonethatnight。HethoughtMrs。Jowouldcryout，butsheonlywhispered，“Hush!“asshesoftlyliftedawaytheapron，andsawthelittleruddyfacebelow。Theberry-stainedlipswerehalf-openasthebreathcameandwent，theyellowhairlaydamponthehotforehead，andboththechubbyhandsheldfastthelittlepailstillfull。
Thesightofthechildishharvest，treasuredthroughallthetroublesofthatnightforher，seemedtotouchMrs。Jototheheart，forsuddenlyshegatheredupherboy，andbegantocryoverhim，sotenderly，yetsoheartily，thathewokeup，andatfirstseemedbewildered。Thenheremembered，andhuggedherclose，sayingwithalaughoftriumph，­；
“Iknewyou’dcome!OMarmar!Ididwantyouso!“Foramomenttheykissedandclungtooneanother，quiteforgettingalltheworld；fornomatterhowlostandsoiledandworn-outwanderingsonsmaybe，motherscanforgiveandforgeteverythingastheyfoldthemintheirfosteringarms。Happythesonwhosefaithinhismotherremainsunchanged，andwho，throughallhiswanderings，haskeptsomefilialtokentorepayherbraveandtenderlove。
DanmeantimepickedNanoutofherbush，and，withagentlenessnonebutTeddyeversawinhimbefore，hesoothedherfirstalarmatthesuddenwaking，andwipedawayhertears；forNanalsobegantocryforjoy，itwassogoodtoseeakindfaceandfeelastrongarmroundherafterwhatseemedtoheragesoflonelinessandfear。
“Mypoorlittlegirl，don’tcry!Youareallsafenow，andnooneshallsayawordofblameto-night，“saidMrs。Jo，takingNanintohercapaciousembrace，andcuddlingbothchildrenasahenmightgatherherlostchickensunderhermotherlywings。
“Itwasmyfault；butIamsorry。Itriedtotakecareofhim，andIcoveredhimupandlethimsleep，anddidn’ttouchhisberries，thoughIwassohungry；andIneverwilldoitagain­；truly，never，never，“sobbedNan，quitelostinaseaofpenitenceandthankfulness。
“Callthemnow，andletusgethome，“saidMrs。Jo；andDan，gettinguponthewall，sentajoyfulword“Found!“ringingoverthefield。
Howthewanderinglightscamedancingfromallsides，andgatheredroundthelittlegroupamongthesweetfernbushes!Suchahugging，andkissing，andtalking，andcrying，aswentonmusthaveamazedtheglowworms，andevidentlydelightedthemosquitoes，fortheyhummedfrantically，whilethelittlemothscameinflockstotheparty，andthefrogscroakedasiftheycouldnotexpresstheirsatisfactionloudlyenough。
Thentheysetoutforhome，­；aqueerparty，forFranzrodeontotellthenews；DanandTobyledtheway；thencameNaninthestrongarmsofSilas，whoconsideredher“thesmartestlittlebaggageheeversaw，“
andteasedherallthewayhomeaboutherpranks。Mrs。BhaerwouldletnoonecarryRobbuthimself，andthelittlefellow，refreshedbysleep，satup，andchatteredgayly，feelinghimselfahero，whilehismotherwentbesidehimholdingontoanypatofhispreciouslittlebodythatcamehandy，andnevertiredofhearinghimsay，“IknewMarmarwouldcome，“orseeinghimleandowntokissher，andputaplumpberryintohermouth，“’Causehepicked’emallforher。“
Themoonshoneoutjustastheyreachedtheavenue，andalltheboyscameshoutingtomeetthem，sothelostlambswereborneintriumphandsafety，andlandedinthedining-room，wheretheunromanticlittlethingsdemandedsupperinsteadofpreferringkissesandcaresses。Theyweresetdowntobreadandmilk，whiletheentirehouseholdstoodroundtogazeuponthem。Nansoonrecoveredherspirits，andrecountedherperilswitharelishnowthattheywereallover。Robseemedabsorbedinhisfood，butputdownhisspoonallofasudden，andsetupadolefulroar。
“Myprecious，whydoyoucry？“askedhismother，whostillhungoverhim。
“I’mcrying’causeIwaslost，“bawledRob，tryingtosqueezeoutatear，andfailingentirely。
“Butyouarefoundnow。Nansaysyoudidn’tcryoutinthefield，andIwasgladyouweresuchabraveboy。“
“IwassobusybeingfrightenedIdidn’thaveanytimethen。ButIwanttocrynow，’causeIdon’tliketobelost，“explainedRob，strugglingwithsleep，emotion，andamouthfulofbreadandmilk。
Theboyssetupsuchalaughatthisfunnywayofmakingupforlosttime，thatRobstoppedtolookatthem，andthemerrimentwassoinfectious，thatafterasurprisedstareheburstoutintoamerry，“Ha，ha!“andbeathisspoonuponthetableasifheenjoyedthejokeimmensely。
“Itisteno’clock；intobed，everymanofyou，“saidMr。Bhaer，lookingathiswatch。
“And，thankHeaven!therewillbenoemptyonesto-night，“addedMrs。
Bhaer，watching，withfulleyes，Robbygoingupinhisfather’sarms，andNanescortedbyDaisyandDemi，whoconsideredherthemostinterestingheroineoftheircollection。
“PoorAuntJoissotiredsheoughttobecarriedupherself，“saidgentleFranz，puttinghisarmroundherasshepausedatthestair-foot，lookingquiteexhaustedbyherfrightandlongwalk。
“Let’smakeanarm-chair，“proposedTommy。
“No，thankyou，mylads；butsomebodymaylendmeashouldertoleanon，“answeredMrs。Jo。
“Me!me!“andhalf-a-dozenjostledoneanother，alleagertobechosen，fortherewassomethinginthepalemotherlyfacethattouchedthewarmheartsundertheroundjackets。
Seeingthattheyconsidereditanhonor，Mrs。Jogaveittotheonewhohadearnedit，andnobodygrumbledwhensheputherarmonDan’sbroadshoulder，saying，withalookthatmadehimcolorupwithprideandpleasure，­；
“Hefoundthechildren；soIthinkhemusthelpmeup。“
Danfeltrichlyrewardedforhisevening’swork，notonlythathewaschosenfromalltheresttogoproudlyupbearingthelamp，butbecauseMrs。Josaidheartily，“Good-night，myboy!Godblessyou!“asheleftheratherdoor。
“IwishIwasyourboy，“saidDan，whofeltasifdangerandtroublehadsomehowbroughthimnearerthanevertoher。
“Youshallbemyoldestson，“andshesealedherpromisewithakissthatmadeDanhersentirely。
LittleRobwasallrightnextday，butNanhadaheadache，andlayonMotherBhaer’ssofawithcold-creamuponherscratchedface。Herremorsewasquitegone，andsheevidentlythoughtbeinglostratherafineamusement。
Mrs。Jowasnotpleasedwiththisstateofthings，andhadnodesiretohaveherchildrenledfromthepathsofvirtue，orherpupilslyingroundlooseinhuckleberryfields。SoshetalkedsoberlytoNan，andtriedtoimpressuponhermindthedifferencebetweenlibertyandlicense，tellingseveraltalestoenforceherlecture。ShehadnotdecidedhowtopunishNan，butoneofthesestoriessuggestedaway，andasMrs。Jolikedoddpenalties，shetriedit。
“Allchildrenrunaway，“pleadedNan，asifitwasasnaturalandnecessaryathingasmeaslesorhoopingcough。
“Notall，andsomewhodorunawaydon’tgetfoundagain，“answeredMrs。Jo。
“Didn’tyoudoityourself？“askedNan，whosekeenlittleeyessawsometracesofakindredspiritintheseriousladywhowassewingsomorallybeforeher。
Mrs。Jolaughed，andownedthatshedid。
“Tellaboutit，“demandedNan，feelingthatshewasgettingtheupperhandinthediscussion。
Mrs。Josawthat，andsobereddownatonce，saying，witharemorsefulshakeofthehead，­；
“Ididitagoodmanytimes，andledmypoormotherratherahardlifewithmypranks，tillshecuredme。“
“How？“andNansatupwithafacefullofinterest。