"Aren't we ever going to get to that town? Tom said it was only two miles or a little over."
"I wish we could speak to that other woman," muttered Ruth.
"Do you suppose this old thing is crazy?" whispered Helen.
"Worse than that," returned Ruth. "I am afraid of them all. I don't believe they mean us well. Let's get out, Helen."
"Oh! where shall we go?" returned her friend, in a tone quite as soft as Ruth's own.
"We must be somewhere near the town."
"It is pitch dark outside the windows," complained Helen.
"Let's try it. Pitch dark is not as bad as this wicked old creature——"
The hag laughed again, although she was not looking at them. Surely she could not hear the girls' whispers, yet her cackling laugh sent a shiver over both girls. It was just as though Queen Zelaya, as she called herself, could read what was in their minds.
"Yes, yes!" whispered Helen, with sudden eagerness in her voice. "You are right. We will go."