Truly enough, in a short time, the voice from within was again heard.
“Approach, my children; come and tell me your woes,” it said.
“But the dog, the dog,” cried the guide.
“True,” replied the same voice, “Fidele, Fidele,” it called, and the dog immediately became silent and disappeared.
The two females now approached the hut. It was a little cabin, that was built of a few pieces of round timber, which were now black with smoke. Palmeto leaves formed a slight covering to it. A few reeds roughly fastened to the primitive posts, fenced in the part which lay in the direction from which the wind usually came. The other, or inner part of the hut, however, was fenced entirely in, and covered, as the sleeping apartment.
“Wait until I strike a light,” said the same voice.
In a few moments a rudely constructed old door opened.
“Enter, enter, quickly, my children,” said the same voice.
The lady hesitated a moment.
“Go in, go in, madame,” said the guide, and gently pushed her.