harmless wood look ghastly. And, anyway, I couldn't turn them out now. I
don't believe I could find my way. You don't want me to run into
something, do you?"

"No, of course not," Grace said more firmly, rather ashamed of her fears.
"I didn't mean to act in a silly fashion. But," she turned to Betty
quickly, "that hold-up and all--don't you feel a little queer yourself,
Betty? Tell the truth."

"Yes," said the Little Captain truthfully. "I feel," she added slowly, as
though searching for words, "I feel as though the woods belonged to
somebody and that we were sort of--sort of--intruding."

"Why, Betty!" said Grace, staring at her, "what a funny thing to say."

"I suppose it is," said Betty, shaking off the illusion with a shrug of
her shoulders. "I am getting foolish in my old age I guess. We shall all
feel better when we get something to eat."

"If we ever do," said Grace gloomily, adding as a sudden turn in the woods
shot them deeper into the gloom of it: "Do be careful, Betty. I feel as
though we were going over a precipice."

But Betty was too busy keeping the road to listen to her.

"Look behind," she directed Grace, "and see if Mollie is following close
to us."

"She is right behind," reported Grace, as two eyes of light shot their
glare in her eyes. "She is following us closer than a poor relation."