that offered even a chance for a successful passage through the thick
growth of trees and underbrush.

Without hesitation she turned off the trail, and, though the going was
rough, and her hands and face were scratched, while her clothes were
torn, she was rewarded at last by finding that the ground below her grew
smooth, showing that human feet had passed that way often enough to wear
the faintest sort of a path.

Once she became aware of the path her heart grew light, for she was sure
now that she was going in the right direction at last. And, indeed, it
was not more than five minutes before she almost stumbled over Dolly
herself, bound to a tree, and with a handkerchief stuffed in her mouth
so that she could not cry out.

"Oh, Dolly! I'm so glad, so glad! Listen, dear; I can't stay. You'll
have to be here a little while longer, but we will soon have you back at
the camp, as safe and well as ever. Are you hurt? Does it give you pain?
If it doesn't shake your head sideways."

Dolly managed to shake her head, and in her eyes Bessie saw that now
that she knew help was near Dolly's courage would sustain her.

"That gypsy girl we saw is near, but the man who carried you off is
going to send another man to watch, and if I let you go now we'd only
meet him, and be in more trouble than ever. But be brave, dear! it won't
be long now."

Poor Dolly could not answer, for Bessie, remembering that Lolla had
seemed to fear the man Peter more than she did John, dared not even