Billie’s wandering mind had returned to its dwelling place but she still kept her eyes closed even when she felt two strong arms lift her up and place her on a seat which seemed almost familiar. She half opened her eyes and looked through the lashes. She was in an automobile, but it was not the Comet.
“Get in, Sue. Sit here and hold her beside you. I’ll run the car.”
Evidently there were only two seats to the motor car. Billie was squeezed into a seat beside the woman and while the peddler, Indian, or whatever he was, was cranking up the machine she opened her eyes and looked straight into the little pig eyes of a fat Indian squaw.
“Shut eyes,” whispered Hot Air Sue and Billie promptly closed them again, feeling suddenly very wide awake and alert.
Presently they were moving smoothly and silently over the prairie. The automobile was a very fast one and the wind raised by the swift motion had a reviving, refreshing effect on the exhausted girl.
“Water and food,” she whispered into the ear of Hot Air Sue.
“Umph!” grunted the squaw. “Girl ver’ sick,” she said to Hawkes. “Must have water and bread.”
The man stopped the car and from under the seat drew forth a box of crackers and a bottle of water. Billie ate some of the crackers and drank deeply from a tin cup of the water. She never stopped to think of how clean the cup was or where the sandwich had come from.
Then she laid her head on the Indian woman’s breast and pretended to go back to sleep.
“Where going?” she heard Hot Air Sue ask.