She saw nothing; but a low voice said:
“Keep cool, girl, and raise your hands.”
She glanced at the guard, still listening, and put her hands together above her head.
The next moment a great red hand encircled the wrists, and ’Reesa South was snatched from her prison in the twinkling of an eye!
“Now back, Cohoon,” whispered a voice which caused the girl to start, and the next moment she clutched her preserver’s arm.
“Father! is it not you?”
“Yes, ’Reesa,” was the reply. “It’s nobody but old Kit South, your father.”
“Thank Heaven!”
“When we git out o’ this, if we ever do, we will. We’re in the fire yet, and it’s a long ways out o’ the blaze.”
They pushed forward with more haste than caution, and succeeded in reaching the river in safety.