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"Not" warned Septimus

"Mh They went up my nose" Nicko spluttered Three small Mint Blasts shot out of his nose

"Oh, they sometimes do that The trick is to just hold them in your mouth and let them explode They really wake you up, don&039;t they?"

"I thinkto pop out"

"Well I like them" Septimus took a few for himself and put the tube in his backpack "Want so," said Nicko, his eyes strea

Nicko wiped his eyes, unfolded Sam&039;s"Can you see a standing stone anywhere?" he asked Septiuely to a cluster of trees "It looks a bit like a bird"

"No," said Septimus, who had had his doubts about Sam&039;s map since he&039;d seen it "Nicko, are we lost?"

"No, &039;course not," said Nicko

"Well, where are we then?"

"Not quite sure," nize"

As Septimus followed Nicko deeper into the Forest he felt ether; soe trunks and felt very ancient Septiethe trees becae Each one seemed different to him; some were benevolent presences and others were not Once or twice Septihtly as they passed by, and he i at theht had coht, which filtered through the tightly knit branches above their heads It was easier to walk now that the undergrowth had grown less tangled and wild in the di over a thick bed of fallen leaves Every now and then Septi sound as a small creature ran away Septimus didn&039;t mind those sounds; he knew they were just tree rats or Forest weasels, but once or twice he heard the snapping of branches as soe crashed away froan to feel very uneasy They had been in the Forest for what seehtsuch as it as fading into twilight As he followed Nicko he could see no sign of a track, and he began to wonder if they were lost But still Nicko doggedly pushed on through the ferns and bracken and Septimus dutifully followed hi

Septimus stoppednow he knew they were lost "Nicko," he said, "we&039;ve been here before An hour ago Look, I recognize that hollow tree with the puffballs all around it"

Nicko stopped and looked at Sam&039;s map "We can&039;t be lost," he said "Look, here we are" Septi

"On that squashed ant, you mean?"

"What squashed ant?" Nicko squinted at the ht After a few seconds of staring at the scruffy piece of paper, Nicko said, "Oh, that squashed ant"

"We&039;re lost, aren&039;t we?" said Septiree that may be an ant but we&039;re still on that track here And if we follow it alongtheresee, we come to the camp Honestly, Sep, we&039;re alain with Septi After a while he said, "We&039;ve been here before too, Nik We&039;re just going around in circles"

Nicko stopped and wearily leaned against a tree "I know, Sep I&039;m sorry We&039;re lost"