Page:Milady at Arms (1937).pdf/76

 hidden by a turn of the road as they had done so—to disappear up the road, Sally used her heels as spurs and regained the lane in short order to gallop in the opposite direction, toward home.

"Now," she said, when Jerry had come up with her once more, "let us hurry!" She whispered suddenly: "Oh, what be the use o' hurrying when it may be too late!"

"Courage!" returned Jerry. "The little Mary will yet be found safe!"

At last they reached the old stone wall whence had come the fatal shot from Master Todd's musket. Across the way was another opening into the swamp which Sally knew. Once more she guided old Dot into water knee-deep to the horse, followed by Jerry. Once more they reached a strip of higher ground, above the water. And there, slipping off from old Dot, Sally tied her to a tree and helped Jerry tie his nag, also, for his abused and wounded arm was now paining him again—a fact he had tried to hide from the girl; but which her sharp scrutiny had detected and pitied. At last, free to set forth upon their search for the missing child, they faced each other.

"Hast any idea which direction Mary might ha' taken?" asked Jerry in a hopeless manner.

Sally, shaking her head, jumped in nervous terror. Was that a snake she had stepped upon! Examination proved it to be but a stick. "Nay," she said.