“Shall we try to get across now? It must be very late.”
“I think it is, and growing cloudier all the time. Did you say the boat was this way? Sit still. Please do not make any more effort than you need. Those little feet have been too sorely tried already.”
The boat was found in its place, and they embarked upon the little creek, by degrees making their way around the island, and then across to the opposite shore.
“I trust it is not far, for your sake,” said Mr. Baldwin, seeing how utterly exhausted the girl was.
“No, it is but a little way.” Yet every step was torture to the already bruised feet, and tears were running down the girl’s cheeks when at last they stopped at the door of old Hagar’s little hut.
Mr. Baldwin rapped sharply. “Who dar?” came a startled response.
“It is I, Aunt Hagar; Lettice, Mars Jeems’s Lettice.”
“What yuh doin’ hyar dis time o’ night?”
“Law, chile! Fo’ de Lawd!” came the reply, and in an instant there was a withdrawal of bolts and bars, and the old woman’s head was thrust out.