ing to him. She was panting with sobs, but she kept her
voice down to a whisper. "Speak low, speak low," she said in his ear. "I
don't know where he is. Oh, speak low." She clung to him with almost a
spasmodic grip of her slender arms. "If you had been ten minutes longer
I think I should have died," she whispered. "Don't make a sound. I don't
know where he is."

"Was it--" began James. He felt himself trembling at the thought of what
the girl might be going to reveal to him.

"Yes, that same dreadful man. Uncle Tom was right. I stayed too long at
Annie's. It was almost dark when I left there. She persuaded me to stay
to dinner. They had turkey. I was about half a mile below here when he,
the man, came out of the woods, just as he did before. I heard him, and
I knew. I did not look around. I ran, and I heard his footsteps behind
me. The darkness seemed to shut down all at once. I knew he could catch
me, and remembered what I had heard about wild animals when they were
hunted. I had gone a little past here, running just as softly as I
could, when I turned right into the woods, and ran back. Then I lay
right down in the underbrush and kept still. I heard him run past. Then
I heard him come back. He came into the woods. I expected every minute
he would step on me, but I kept still. Finally I heard him go away, but
I have not dared to stir since! I made up my mind I would keep still
until I heard a team pass. It did seem to me one must pass, and one
would have at any other time, but it has been hours I have been lying
there. Then I heard your whistle. I was almost afraid to speak then.
Don't speak above a whisper now. Did you come on foot?"

"I had the gray mare, and she balked about half a mile from here. You
are sure you are not hurt?"

"No, only I am trying hard not to faint. Let us walk on very fast, but
step softly, and don't talk."

James put his arm around the girl and half carried her. She continued
to draw short, panting breaths, which she tried to subdue. They reached
the place where the gray mare loomed faintly out of the gloom with the
dark mass of the buggy behind her.

"Let us get in," whispered Clemency. "Quick!"

"I am afraid she won't budge."

"Yes, she will for me. She has a tender mouth, that is why she balks.
You must have pulled too hard on the lines. Sometimes I have made her go
when even Uncle Tom couldn't."

Clemency ran around to the gray's head and patted her, and James untied
her. Then t