Again she was silent, and they passed into the valley.
Some dogs barked loudly, but were driven back to their kennels; and then she was before one of the huts, and was told to dismount.
Panther Pete swung down and helped her from the saddle.
“We’ll rest a little while,” he explained. “Then we’ll go on again.”
“But we ought to hurry right on, for father may be dying,” she protested.
“We’ll need a little rest,” he urged, and he opened the door of the hut and showed her within.
She stood in the darkness, inside, hesitating, for she began to feel that something was wrong.
Panther Pete followed her into the hut, and then lighted a lamp, which stood on a low table at the opposite side of the room. By its lights she saw that the hut contained but one room.
“Just stay here and rest a minute,” he urged, “and I’ll be right back. I’ll have something brought for you to eat, and then in a little while we’ll go on again.”
However, when he retreated and closed the door, she distinctly heard the key turned in the lock.