“The white man’s law is very strange,” muttered Totantora.
“But we will get ahead of Bilby before he can do anything else,” Ruth went on. “Miss Cameron’s car is outside in the road. Go to the hotel and change your clothes, Totantora, and I will take both you and Wonota back to the Red Mill. Until we get away for the North I shall not want you out of my sight.”
The Indian shook himself much as a dog might. A lighter expression flickered over his dark face.
“I shall not suffer cold from a wetting,” he said. “It is nothing. I have nothing at the hotel. We will go now.”
“Come on, then,” rejoined Ruth, promptly. “It is best that we get away before Bilby can learn that his plan to make Wonota a captive miscarried. Hurry!”
She swept them in her earnestness out to the road where Helen and Aunt Alvirah saw them with considerable surprise—particularly because of the saturated condition of the Indian.
“I declare, Ruth!” cried Helen, “you do manage to get into such perfectly lovely rows. What is the matter?”
But Ruth postponed all explanation for a later time. On their way back to the Red Mill she did explain to Helen, however, that she intended to take the two Indians to Cheslow and get a train for Albany that evening.
“I will fool Bilby and whoever is aiding him. We will get away.”
“If you go to-night, so do I!” exclaimed her chum. “You can’t lose me, Ruth Fielding. I can see that we are going to have perfectly scrumptious times before this picture you are going to make is finished.”