“Don’t cry, dearie,” she exclaimed. “We are in no danger. They will not dare to harm us.”
She gazed at their three captors angrily.
“What do you want with us?” she demanded.
“You shall know in good time,” replied Mrs. Sebastian gruffly.
Her manner had undergone a sudden change. She was no longer the good-natured, smiling companion of the steamer. Her face was hard, and she seemed to have aged ten years.
She turned to the other woman.
“Bring paper, pen and ink,” she commanded.
The latter hurried away to obey this order, and returned a few moments later, bearing the required articles, which she placed on a table.
Mrs. Sebastian drew up several chairs and motioned the two girls, who had been staring at them curiously, to take the seats.
Both realized it would be useless to refuse and did as commanded. Mrs. Sebastian passed the paper, pen and ink to Shirley.