"Well--no, Mrs. Hedden," he shouted in reply, "not exactly that--but
we've got the gal safe an' sound--not a scratch on her."

In another moment Bessie was in her mother's arms.

"Only me, mother!" she sobbed; "only me; but father's looking for them
and, oh! mother, Bouncer is dead!"

The next day brought no better tidings. At noon the men returned from
their search, jaded and dispirited. After the first explanations were
over, Mr. Hedden called one of the party aside and whispered, huskily--

"Give her this, Dennis--I can't; and tell her it was the only trace we
could find."

The mother's quick eye caught sight of the object before her husband had
fairly drawn it from beneath his hunting-jacket. "It's Kitty's hood,"
she cried, stretching forth her hand as she fell senseless to the floor.

That evening, and for many a day afterward, the search was continued but
without success; no trace could be found of either Tom Hennessy,
Rudolph, or little Kitty.




V.

THE CAPTIVES.