f the man who had
carried Dolly off. It was easy to do, fortunately, or Bessie could
scarcely have hoped to accomplish it.

There had been a light rain the previous morning, enough to soften the
ground and wipe out the traces of the numerous parties that had made
Deer Mountain the objective point of a tramp in the woods, and, mingled
with her own small footsteps, Bessie soon found the marks of hobnailed
feet, that must, she was sure, have been made by the gypsy.

Step by step she followed them, and she was just about at the first of
the diverging trails when a sound behind her made her turn, terrified,
to see who was approaching.

But it was not the man who had so frightened her whom she saw as she
turned. It was a girl--a gypsy, to be sure--but a girl, and Bessie had
no fear of her, even when she saw that it was the same girl the scamp
she was pursuing was to marry. Moreover, the girl seemed as surprised
and frightened at the sight of Bessie, crouching there? as Bessie
herself had been at the other's coming.

"Where is he; that wicked man you are to marry?" cried Bessie, fiercely,
springing to her feet, and advancing upon the trembling gypsy girl. "You
shall tell me, or I will--"

She seized the gypsy girls shoulders, and shook her, before she realized
that the girl, whose eyes were filled with tears, probably knew as
little as she herself. Then, repentant, she released her shoulders, but
repeated her question.

"You mean John, my man?" said the girl, a quiver in her tones. "I do
not know, he was not at the camp last night. I was afraid. I think he
does not love me any more."

Something about the way she spoke made Bessie pity her.

"What is your name?" she asked.

"Lolla," said the gypsy.

"I believe you do not know, Lolla," said Bessie, kindly. "And you do not
want him to be sent to prison, perhaps for years and years, do you? You
love this John?"

"Prison? They would send him there? What for? No, no--yes, I love him.
Do you know where he is; where he was last night?"

"I know where he was last night, Lolla, yes. He came to our camp and
carried my friend away. You remember, the one who was with me yesterday,
when we looked at your camp? That is why I am looking for him. He says
he will make her marry him later on; that he will keep her with your
tribe until she is ready."

Lolla's tears ceased suddenly, and there was a gleam of passionate
anger in her eyes.

"He will do that?" she said, angrily. "M