Jake and his sister Ella lived at the end of the town. The street stopped there, and the forest began.
One Saturday morning their father said, "Stay near the house today. Don't go behind the white tree."
"What white tree?" said Ella.
"The one by the path," said their father. "The path goes into the forest. The white tree is the end of it. Behind that tree you can get lost."
"OK," said Jake. "We will not go behind it."
Their mother went to town. Their father worked in the house. At two o'clock the sun came out, and the forest looked very quiet.
"Let's go to the river," said Ella.
"The river is behind the white tree," said Jake.
"We will only look at the water," said Ella. "We will not go behind the tree. I want to see the river."
Jake looked at the forest. It was big and dark, but the sun was out.
"OK," he said. "We will be back before five."
They went down the street and into the forest. The path was small, and the trees stood close together. Ella walked in front of him.
Then they saw the white tree. It was a very big tree, and the path went behind it, down to the river.
"There it is," said Ella. "We saw it. Now we go back."
"We are here," said Jake. "One more look. Just a little."
They went behind the white tree, and there was the river. The water moved quickly. Some rocks stood in the water.
Ella wanted to put her hand in the water. She went over the rocks, and she fell.
"Jake!" she cried.
Jake ran to her. "Are you OK?"
"My leg," said Ella. "It hurts."
There was a little red on her leg.
Ella stood up, and it hurt. She sat down again.
"I can't walk," she said.
"Then I'll carry you," said Jake. "It's not far home."
He carried her back to the path. He carried her to the white tree. It was almost dark.
"The street is behind the forest," said Jake. "I will go through the trees. It's faster."
"No, Jake," said Ella. "Father said—"
"Father is not here," said Jake.
He went into the forest. The trees stood close together, and it was very dark under them. He walked and walked.
"Are we near home, Jake?" said Ella.
"Soon," said Jake. "Very soon."
Then he stopped. The white tree was in front of him again.
"The white tree," he said. "We are back."
"How?" said Ella.
"We went all the way around," said Jake. "We walked in the dark, and we came back to the white tree."
"I want to go home, Jake."
"I don't know the way home," said Jake.
He put Ella down by the tree. They sat there, and the night came. It was cold. Jake put his coat over Ella.
"You will be cold," said Ella.
"I'm OK," said Jake. He was not OK. He was afraid.
"Does your leg hurt?" he said.
"A little," said Ella. "Not much."
"I want to eat," she said.
"We will eat at home," said Jake. "Father will come. He knows the white tree."
Ella said nothing. They waited. The forest was quiet around them.
Then Jake heard something. A voice, far away.
"Jake? Ella?"
Jake stood up. "Here!" he shouted. "We are here! At the white tree!"
A light moved between the trees, and their father came. He ran to them, and he took Ella in his arms.
"I looked for you for hours," he said.
"We went behind the white tree," said Jake. "I'm sorry."
"Your leg!" said their father. "You walked with a hurt leg?"
"Jake carried me," said Ella. "All the time."
At home, their mother put Ella to bed. Their father looked at Jake.
"The white tree is for looking," he said. "Not for going behind."
"I know," said Jake.
"Tomorrow we will walk to the tree together," said their father. "From our side. And then we come back."
"Yes," said Ella from her bed. "We will look at it. And we will come back."
"We will not go behind it," said Jake. "Never again."
The moon was up over the forest. It was quiet, and it was white, like the tree.
"It's late," said his mother.
"I know," said Jake. "I'm coming."