But the strange girl was strong and Ruth was desperate. One last, hard pull, and Ruth found herself lying upon a bed of soft moss and sweet-scented flowers.
She lay for a moment, panting, trying to regain her strength. Her rescuer bent over her anxiously.
“Do you feel better?” asked the latter. “Can you—do you think you can walk?”
“Of course,” returned Ruth, and struggled to her feet. She swayed unsteadily and was amazed to find how weak she was.
The strange girl put a slender, strong young arm about her shoulders and spoke with an air of quiet authority.
“You must come with me—please,” she said. “Our cabin is only a short distance away. Look—there it is through the trees. There you can rest until you are stronger and can tell me just what has happened.”
Ruth said no more, but allowed her new friend to lead her down a narrow path that led to a small cottage. It was the rudest kind of little dwelling, built, as even Ruth could see, by one who was an amateur at such work. A lonely enough place, Ruth thought, to house such a pretty young creature as this girl who walked beside her.
As they neared the house Ruth saw another figure framed in the doorway.
Her new acquaintance must have followed the direction of her glance, for she said quickly:
“My sister. We live here together.”