“They ain’t got to go no distance much, lady,” the boy assured her. “They’ll be back inside of fifteen minutes,” and being the prince of liars and an actor of precocious ability, he succeeded in persuading them that Ben and Percy must follow him without delay.
The girls were still gathering up the rugs and cushions preparatory to going into the house, when there came another interruption that frightened Miss Campbell so much that she gave a little cry and seized Billie’s arm.
“It’s only old Granny, the herb-woman,” Billie assured her. “What is it, Granny?”
“Phoebe! They gona’ tar and feather Phoebe an’ her father if they can find him. Go, quick. Lupo an’ his men comin’ up mountain. Hurry and shut house.”
“But I don’t want to bring this danger on my friends,” exclaimed Phoebe. “I will go with you, Granny.”
“No, no, too dangerous,” answered the old woman. “Lupo, he see in dark.”
“Indeed, you shall not go,” broke in Miss Campbell indignantly. “You’ll stay right here and they shall not tar and feather you or anybody else. The low wretches!”
“Shut up house, quick,” was Granny’s last piece of advice as she melted away in the darkness.
Nobody paused to beat down the camp fire or gather up the rugs and cushions. Into the house they scurried and lost no time in drawing the great iron-bound winter doors across the openings into the living room, and bolting them. The doors to the sleeping porches were all carefully closed and locked from the inside. Then they sat down in the immense vaulted room and waited.
Phoebe, sitting apart from the others, seemed very quiet and calm in the face of the danger which threatened her, and Billie knew she was calling on the faith which had never failed her.