"Oh, Selwin, Selwin," gasped the woman, "I can't keep this up! I'm ready to drop now! Can't you go a little slower?"
"And have those human hounds overtake us?" snarled the man. "Curse them! They're like bloodhounds on the scent! I've tried every trick to turn them off our track. I've doubled and turned, I've crossed ledges and waded streams, but I fear to hear them behind us any moment!"
"You were mad, Selwin—mad!" gasped the weary woman, whose garments were tattered and torn, and whose hands and face were scratched and bleeding. "I told you how it would be! I told you we could not carry this mad scheme through!"
"I will carry it through!" he grated. "If we can keep away from them until darkness falls, they'll be unable to follow us farther."
"But the whole country will be aroused! We can't escape! I say it was madness!"
"How in the devil did they find it out so soon?"
"I knew they would—I knew it! The other child——"
"Looked enough like this one to pass muster for a few hours, at least," he interrupted. "Satan take the brat! Hear it squall!"
Again a smothered cry came from the bundle.
"Don't hurt it!" pleaded the woman. "Don't handle it so roughly!"