They had reached the first cabin that stood by the creek road when of a sudden Patience, pulling excitedly at the principal’s sleeve, whispered hoarsely:
“That’s them there! They’re the three men that carried Hallie away!”
A single glance told Marion she was right. So great was her fear of them that her first impulse was to snatch up Hallie and flee. But her better judgment prevailed. Surely here they were safe.
The men, apparently without having seen them, turned up a side path to enter a cabin.
“Are you sure those are the men?” asked the principal.
“Yes, yes!” the girls answered in unison.
“Let’s hurry, then.”
A short time later they were telling their story to Judge Bascomb, a kindly old man.
“First thing,” he said after they had finished, “is to find out who the men are. Come on out and show me the cabin they entered.”
“H’m,” he mused as he sighted the cabin. “Can’t be Long Jim. That’s his cabin. He’s laid up with rheumatism. Must be some of his friends. Here, John Henry,” he called to a barefoot boy. “Who’s visiting at Long Jim’s?”