"If you had not I feel I should have gone insane. That man was always terrible, but today he wanted to take me away!"
"Once in my little boat and you will almost forget all those terrible things," said Cora. "I left—it—here!"
Then she stopped in dismay, as she saw that the boat was gone!
CHAPTER XVI
A TERRIBLE NIGHT
"The boat is gone!" Cora almost gasped. Then the girl, the sick frail creature, did a remarkable thing—she came to the rescue of the stronger one.
"No matter," she said calmly. "I feel so much better with a girl to speak to, that if you will put up with my strange life for a night, perhaps it will be all right in the morning. There," as Cora showed by her change of color that she felt it would be a risk, "lots of people think sleeping, out of doors is the very best sort of life. Don't you want to try it?"' and her arm stole around Cora's waist.
"Why, of course we can only try, but I am afraid that you will suffer, Laurel. You are very weak," said Cora.
"No, I was only frightened," and she made an effort to show that she did really feel better. "Now, when we go back we must not let father know that we are still on the island."
Cora did not question this. That the girl had a good reason for keeping her presence a secret from her father she felt certain. But to turn back to those woods! And night so near!