She was so startled and mixed up that she could not tell in which direction she was being led, but they did not take her far.
Suddenly the clutch at her throat was released.
"Step up," said the voice. "I am about to assist you into an auto. Be careful. There! All right now. Sit down and behave yourself and you will slip through this trial easy enough."
Was it a Chinaman who was speaking?
Certainly the voice was that of an Oriental of some sort, but to Alice it sounded more like the voice of an educated Japanese, although the language was that of the other race.
"May I have my head free now?" she asked. "I am stifling."
"Just a moment," was the reply. "They are bringing the box. When we start you shall be relieved."
She heard them come; the box was lifted into the car, which seemed to be a long, three-seated affair, as near as Alice could judge.
Then the start was made, and so noiselessly was it all managed that there had scarce been a sound.
Immediately the burlap was withdrawn from Alice's head.