."

The wagons moved forward again, and the women felt that the possible
danger of discovery had passed.

"Keep quiet in there," called a rough voice from the seat. "These
woods are thick with trailers."

For some time no one within the van spoke. Then Cora turned, and the
woman wearing the thick hood clapped something over Cora's nose.

"Oh, don't! She has had enough. Let her at least live," begged the
younger woman, actually fanning Cora's white face with her own soiled
handkerchief.

The night seemed blacker and darker at each turn. Shouts from the
searchers occasionally reached the ears of those within the wagon, and
once Mr. Rand on his donkey might have seen them but for the trickery
of the driver, who pulled his horses into some shadowy bushes and
waited for the searchers to pass.

The young gypsy woman peered down into Cora's face.

"She's pretty," she said, with some sympathy.

"Well, by the time she's out perhaps she won't be so pretty," sneered
the older woman. "I swore revenge for Salvo, and I'll have it."

"Oh, you and Salvo! Seems to me a man ought to be able----"

"You cat! Do you want to go back to the cave?"

The girl was silent again.

"Where--am I? Jack! Jack!" Cora moaned.

"Here! Don't you dare give her another drop of that stuff, or
I'll--squeal!"

The old woman stopped, and in the darkness of the wagon Mother Hull
felt, rather than saw, that the younger one would do as she threatened.
She might shout! Then those searching the woods would hear.

"We will soon be there. Then she may call for Jack until her throat is
sore!" muttered the hag.

Cora tossed on her bed of straw. The chloroform kept her quiet, but
she knew and felt that she was being borne away somewhere into that
dark and lonely night. She could remember now how Ed had gone inside
the hotel, and he had not come back! He would be back presently, and
yes, she would try to sleep until he returned!

She moaned and tried to call, but her voice was like that strange
struggle of sound that comes in nightmare. It means nothing except to
the sleeper.

"She's choking," said the gypsy girl.

"Let her," replied Mother Hull. "We can dump her easily here."

"You--hag!" almost screamed the girl. "I will shout if you don't give
her air."

"Here! here!" called a voice from the seat. "If you two can't keep
quiet, you know what we can do!"

"She's choking!" insisted the girl.

"Let her!" mocked the man.