"What did I do? Did I—did they—oh, tell me?"
Helka was leaning over Cora as the girl regained consciousness. It was night, and the room was quite dark.
"You did nothing, dear, but faint. That was not your fault. Take another sip of this milk. Do you feel better?"
"Yes, but I was so afraid that I screamed, and that they—those dreadful men would punish you."
"Not afraid for yourself?"
"Not if I could not help it. But you had nothing to do with it. Oh,
Helka, I will die if I am not soon set free! I can't stand it."
She burst into hysterical tears. Cora Kimball was losing strength, and with it her courage was failing.
"How could you escape?"
The words came slowly. Helka was thinking deeply.
"Could we get Lena to take a note to David? He would surely rescue us."