Read No Small Victory for Free Online

visit.” Bonnie was standing in front of the man now—on the pathway between him and the dam.
    â€œAre you from that farm? The Elmhirst farm?” The man looked in horror in the direction Bonnie had pointed. Then he started backing away from her. “Git away from me. Git back.” He turned to look at Archie and shook his finger at him. “I’ll get into that river another way. Don’t you doubt that!” Then he pointed to Bonnie. “But I’m not going past that one. And you better steer clear, too, if you don’t want to die by choking up your own blood. Have some sense, boy! Git away from her!”
    Bonnie stared at the man for a moment, but then, bending over, she started to cough loudly. The man turned and disappeared back the way he had come. Archie put his index finger and thumb together in his mouth and whistled sharply through his teeth. Then he did it a second time for full measure. When he’d caught his breath, he said, “That man’s ignorant, he is. Mum says there’s no need to worry anymore. The place is out of quarantine. C’mon.” He grabbed Bonnie’s hand. “We gotta warn the men. Maybe they didn’t hear my signal.” Together they ran the short distance through the thick woods to the river.
    The men had heard Archie’s whistling but only her Dad snuck out from behind a tree and then ran toward her with a bulging sack over each shoulder. “You know the way, Bonnie,” he panted. “Head for home! I can’t wait for you.” He galloped on past, his long legs taking their full stride. The thick woods closed in around him.
    A dark shadow seemed to pass over the woods, and Bonnie shivered.
    Then, forgetting all about Archie, she plucked up her courage and ran headlong in the direction her father had run. As before, her clattering rubber boots held her back. She glanced down at them—and ran smack into a short spruce shrub.
    Bonnie collapsed on the ground, bent her head over her lap, and gritted her teeth together. She’d never find her way out of these woods! But of course she would—she must! So she got up and started on again. Then she thought of Archie. Wherever had he gone?
    â€œBonnie! Bonnie!”
    It was Archie! He was nearby. “Over here,” she yelled back.
    In a few minutes, Archie appeared next to the spruce shrub. “Hey! What are you doing?” he asked.
    â€œI’m just…resting.”
    â€œJeepers! You’re closer to the river now. You need to go the opposite way to get to the main road.”
    â€œI guess I’m kind of turned around. Where’s your farm from here?”
    â€œDepends. The shorter way would be through these trees to the road and through the Hubbs’ farm. The longer way ’round would take me by the road to the end of your farm.”
    â€œCome my way—please?”
    â€œSure!” Archie smiled. “And anyway, it’s easier walking on the road than across ploughed fields.”
    Bonnie jumped up, ready to walk beside him.
    â€œYou just follow me,” Archie said. “The underbrush is thick here, but I’ll open up the way.” He held back the prickly branches of a cedar bush that was blocking their way.
    Bonnie followed her new friend. Maybe Archie’s lost, too, she worried . They were surrounded by a thick undergrowth of green cedar and spruce. Yellow elm and orange maple leaves lay on the ground, but there were still plenty of oak leaves on the trees around them, making the woods very dark. When they finally reached the end of the woods, Bonnie could hardly believe her eyes. She was looking straight across the road at the edge of her family’s farm. The rail fence was snaking along beside their four black-and-white cows that were still grazing near the maple trees. It looked as if nothing had happened.
    â€œYou’d better hurry home,” said Archie. “Most likely your mother will