ips he had made them endure, he let
them sit still for a while. But finally he rose.

"Come," he said. "You've been loafing here long enough. Get up now, and
walk in front of me--back, the way you came."

They groaned at the prospect of retracing their footsteps once more, but
he held the upper hand, and there was nothing for it but obedience. That
much was plain. Desperately, as they began to drag their tired feet once
more along the trail, they listened, hoping against hope for the sounds
that would indicate that some of the searchers they were sure filled the
woods were in the neighborhood.

But no comforting shouts greeted them. The woods were silent, save for
the calls of birds and animals, which, friendly though they might be,
were powerless to aid the two girls against this traditional enemy of
every furred and feathered creature in the forest.

Steadily they plodded on. Bessie knew the ground well by this time, and,
one by one they passed the landmarks she knew so well, until they came
at last to the cross path which had brought Bessie back to the trap
Lolla had prepared for her. And there they came upon a startling
interruption of their journey.

For suddenly Lolla herself, who had evidently been hiding there when
they had passed, alone, before their meeting with John, sprang out and
stood in front of them. Long as she had resisted her fear of the
supernatural force that had come to the aid of the girls, she was
plainly afraid of it still, for at sight of them her cheeks paled, and
she cried out in terror. And behind her, as scared as she was herself,
came Peter, the big gypsy, shaking in every limb.

"A fine mess you made of things--letting them escape," growled John, as
he saw his two compatriots. "If I hadn't found them on the trail, by
sheer luck, they'd have been back at the lake by this time."

"Let them go--for heaven's sake, let them go, John," wailed Lolla.
"There is a devil fighting for them--he will kill you if you try any
longer to keep them from their friends."

"Pah! What child's talk is this? Be thankful that I do not beat you with
my stick for letting them get free!"

"Listen to her, John," said Peter, warningly. "She speaks the truth. It
was a devil that spoke from the air. I saw his horns and his red tail.
Be careful--he may be here now."

John laughed, scornfully.

"Run away, if you are afraid," he said. "I will manage alone now. I
would not trust you--you have failed me once, bo