"Speak up, my little ladies!" commanded Queen Zelaya. "My will is law here. Do not forget that."
"I guess your will isn't much law to us," replied Helen, laughing and tossing her head. "You see, we do not know you——"
"You shall!" hissed the horrible old creature, suddenly stretching forth one of her claw-like hands. "Come here!"
Ruth seized her friend tightly. Helen was laughing, but suddenly she stopped. The queen's terrible eyes seemed to hold the girl in a spell. Involuntarily Helen's limbs bore her toward the far end of the van.
The girl's face became pale; her own eyes protruded from their sockets; the Gypsy Queen charmed her, just as a snake is said to charm a young bird in its nest.
But Ruth sprang after her, seized Helen's arm again, and shook her.
"You stop that!" she cried, to the old woman. "Don't you mind her, Helen. She has some wicked power in her eyes, my dear!"
Her cry broke the hypnotic spell the woman had cast over Helen Cameron. The latter sank down, trembling and sobbing, with her hands over her face.
"Oh, dear, Ruthie! I wish we hadn't gotten into this wagon," she moaned.
"I am sure I wish so, too," returned her chum, in a low voice, while the old woman rocked herself to and fro in her seat, and cackled her horrid laughter.