But at that moment a figure rose from the bushes beside them with a startled cry. It was Sally Wyn.
Terry flung herself upon the girl. “Little sneak!” she cried.
Holding one hand over Sally’s mouth to silence her, Terry dragged her to the road, and then she and Prim hurried away, with the girl between them. When they were some distance from the house, they stopped running and Terry took her prisoner by both arms, shaking her violently. “Why did you double-cross us?” she demanded angrily. “Why did you pretend to be friendly when you were helping Jim Heron? You little traitor!”
“I’m not a traitor. I’m not against you. I was out getting a ladder from the shed, to help you down from the roof,” Sally cried.
“Don’t tell me any more lies. We heard you telling Jim Heron it was a good thing he locked us up. You promised to stand guard over us. And before that you pretended to be our friend.”
“But Terry, I am your friend! I had to say that to Jim, so he would go to sleep tonight and leave me on guard. Can’t you see?”
Prim looked at the girl, who was now sobbing in distress, and said gently, “I believe you, Sally. You are telling the truth.”
Terry voiced her disapproval at first, but finally owned up that she had been mistaken. “I’m sorry, Sally,” she said. “Shake hands and forgive me. Now let’s get away from here.”
“I’ll take you to where the Comet is hidden,” said Sally. “Come on.”
In the darkness she led them up the trail and at the summit she whispered, “Not a sound!” and peered through the bushes. A small campfire glowed not far away, and beside it two men were sleeping.