"Kate send me. Come. Horses ready."
Frank interpreted for Barney's benefit, and the Irish lad cried:
"Thin let's be movin'! It's mesilf that's ready ter git out av thase parruts in a hurry, Oi think."
For a moment Frank hesitated about trusting the mute, and then he decided that it was the best thing to do, and he signaled that they were ready.
Dummy led the way from the mill, crossing by the plank, and plunging into the pine woods.
"He sames to be takin' us back th' woay we came, Frankie," said the Irish lad, in a low tone.
"That's all right," assured Frank. "He said the horses were waiting for us. Probably Kate is with them."
The mute flitted along with surprising silence and speed, and they found it no easy task to follow and keep close enough to see him. Now and then he looked back to make sure they were close behind.
At last they came to the termination of the pines, and there, in the deep shadows, they found three horses waiting.
Kate Kenyon was not there.