"So were we," said Grace, examining a big black and blue bruise on her arm. "We could have held out just about a minute longer."
"How did you do it, Amy?" cried Mollie. "Did you have to go all the way back to camp to find help?"
"No, I met it coming," she answered.
They stared at her incredulously.
"I was about half way to camp," she explained, "when I saw Will and the three soldiers coming toward me. When I had managed to gasp out what I'd come for they didn't say a word—just put on full speed and ran."
"Mighty lucky for us they did," said Mollie, but Betty interrupted eagerly.
"Doesn't it seem strange to you," she said, "that an armed guard should be coming in this direction just when we needed them? And that Will should be at the head of them?"
"Why, Betty, what do you mean?" Mollie was beginning when Grace interrupted.
"Oh, do you think it can be true?" she cried, seeing Betty's meaning and clinging to it desperately. "Oh, Betty, Betty, if it only is!"
"What are you talking about?" cried Mollie impatiently. "Can what be what?"