“I—I don’t know, but I don’t think so.”
“Take hold of my hand and try not to make a sound,” he whispered as he reached out his hand in the darkness.
As he found her hand he backed slowly away drawing her after him. No doubt she made as little noise as possible, but she was totally unskilled in the art of moving noiselessly through the darkness and to Bob it seemed as though she made noise enough to be heard a mile. But nothing happened and foot by foot they won their way back to where Jack was waiting.
Of course the latter knew that they were coming as he knew that Bob alone would not make the noise he could plainly hear.
“Come on, Jack, let’s beat it,” Bob said as soon as he was near enough to whisper.
For perhaps fifteen minutes they crept through the woods the boys noiselessly and the girl making no more than she could help.
“Now I reckon we can stop a bit,” Bob said after he knew that they had covered several rods. “Now, Helen, suppose you tell us about it.”
“But don’t speak above a whisper,” Jack cautioned her.
“I came out on the porch and someone grabbed me,” she began. “I gave a yell and then a hand was pressed over my mouth and I couldn’t make a sound. Then he picked me up and ran and—and I guess that’s about all,” she finished.
“Did he carry you all this way?” Bob asked.