"Good Cudjo! how came you here?"
"Me see you and Pepperill a gwine inter de fire. So me foller."
"This is the old man's daughter, Cudjo."
Cudjo regarded the beautiful young girl with a look of vague wonder and admiration.
"He remembers me," said Virginia. "I saw him the night he climbed in at Toby's window." She gave him her hand; it trembled with emotion. "I thank you, Cudjo, for what you have done for my father—and for me."
"Now, Cudjo! show us the nearest and easiest path. We must take her to the cave—there is no other way."
"You must be right spry, den!" said Cudjo. "De fire am a runnin' ober dat way powerful!"
Indeed, it had already crossed the upper end of the gorge, where the forest brook fell into it; and, getting into some beds of leaves, and thence into dense and inflammable thickets, it was now blazing directly across their line of retreat.
Penn would have carried Virginia in his arms, but she would not suffer him.
"I can go where you can!" she cried, once more full of spirit and daring. "Just give me your hand—you shall see!"