at full length on the floor
of the cave, which Jack, for his play, had covered with soft branches of
evergreen trees, they peeped out through the leafy covering of the cave
while Farmer Weeks went by, snorting and puffing angrily, like some wild
animal, his eyes straight ahead. He never looked at the cave, or in
their direction, but the next man, one employed about the hotel, seemed
to have his eyes fixed directly on the branches. Bessie thought he
looked suspicious. She was sure that he had spied the device, and was
about to call to Farmer Weeks. But, when he was still a few feet off, he
tripped over a root, and sprawled on his face, and, if he had ever
really had any suspicions at all, the fall seemed to drive them from his
mind effectually. He picked himself up, laughing, since the fall had
not hurt him, and, after he had shouted back a warning to two men who
followed him, he went on, dusting himself off.

The root had been good to the fugitives, sure enough, for the men who
followed kept their eyes on the ground, looking out for it, since they
had no desire to share the tumble of the man in front, and neither of
them so much as looked at the cave.

"My, but they're brave men!" said Jack. "Three of them, all to chase one
little girl!"

Zara, her fears somewhat relieved, laughed as she looked at her rescuer.

"I'm bigger than you are," she said, smiling.

"Yes, but you're a girl," said Jack, in a lordly fashion that would have
made Bessie laugh if she hadn't been afraid of hurting his feelings.
"And I've rescued you, haven't I? Did you ever read about the Knights of
the Round Table, and how they rescued ladies in distress? I'm your
knight, and you ought to give me a knot of ribbon. They always do in the
books."

Zara looked puzzled.

"Haven't you ever read about them?" said Jack, looking disappointed. But
then he turned to Bessie. "You have, haven't you?"

"I certainly have, Jack, and Zara shall, soon. They were brave men,
Zara, who lived centuries ago. And whenever they saw a lady who needed
help they gave it to her. Jack's quite right; he is like them."

Jack flushed with pleasure. He had liked Bessie from the start and now
he adored her.

"You're Zara's true knight, Jack, and she'll give you that ribbon from
her hair. But you mustn't let anyone see it, or tell about this
adventure, unless your father asks you. You mustn't say anything that
isn't true, but only answer questions. Don't offer to tell peopl