"Carry did not answer. Her flow of conversation seemed to have been suddenly stopped by John's words, and as she put back her veil I could see that she was listening. I confess I heartily wished that we had gone by the other road, though nothing would have made me acknowledge it. Nevertheless, I grew more and more uncomfortable every moment, and I drove as fast as I could. To add to my annoyance, the horse began to prick up his ears and show signs of restiveness, and finally broke into a gallop."
"'What ails the brute!' I exclaimed, using, I am afraid, rather a hard word. But Carry laid her hand on my arm."
"'Hush, Harry! For mercy's sake, don't swear! Listen!'"
"I listened, and the cold sweat broke out on my forehead, for I heard the howling of the wolves as plainly as I now hear the roaring of the wind."
"What was it like?" asked Agatha, drawing somewhat nearer to Frank.
"Like no sound you ever heard. Perhaps a little like the long-drawn howl of a hound, but a great deal more wild and doleful. At first I could not tell whether the sound was behind or before us; but by listening a moment, I satisfied myself that our enemies at present were all in the rear, though evidently in hot pursuit, as the sounds grew louder every moment. Our lives depended upon our being able to reach the edge of the swamp before they came up with us, or, failing that, to attain some place of comparative safety near at hand. I could think of but two. One was an old log-house which stood by the side of the road in an abandoned clearing. I had once been in it, and I know that the walls were in tolerably good repair, if there were only doors and windows but how that was I could not remember. The other was a strong, low growing oak tree, which stood a little beyond the clearing."
"I whipped up Charley and he flew like the wind. I think if he had been fresh we should have kept our distance without much trouble. But he had already been driven a good way, and after a little, he began to be distressed. Still I pushed on, for it was our only hope. In a few moments—it could have been but a few, though it seemed an age—we reached the house, and I saw, to my horror, that the windows and a part of the roof were gone, end the door was off its hinges and lay flat on the ground."
"I believe I gave a little groan on seeing this, for Carry said, in a low voice—she had not said a word before:"
"'We are lost, then! Oh, my poor mother!'"
"'No, no!' I cried. 'There is the oak tree a little further on. Courage, Carry, we will cheat them yet!' I shouted to Charley to encourage him, and the noble fellow made a new effort. I could see our pursuers coming on behind us, and evidently gaining ground."