But
to turn back to those woods! And night so near!
"I suppose there is absolutely no way of getting a boat?" Cora
questioned.
"Even my canoe is gone. That awful man is to blame," replied the
girl.
"Did he take it?" asked Cora.
"When I refused to go with him, he said I might die here," replied
Laurel. "That was to get more money from father. Oh, you cannot
know how I have wished to speak with some one!" and her big, brown
eyes filled with tears.
"And I am so glad I did come," Cora assured her, "even if our first
night must be a lonely one. I am used to queer experiences."
"Then I will have no fear in showing you how I have lived here. Of
course, it was for father."
They retraced their steps, and in spite of all the assurances that
each pledged to the other it was surely lonely.
"Shall we go to your little pine cave?" Cora asked.
"I think it would be better not to," replied Laurel, "for indeed,
one never knows what that man might do. He might come back just to
frighten me."
"And he saw how ill you were?"
"Oh, most men think girls get ill to order. Very likely he thought
I was acting," and the strange girl almost laughed.
"Our folks will be frightened about me," Cora said. "Are there no
means of getting away from here?"
"There is not a person on this island that I know of," replied
Laurel. "Of course, Brentano took your boat.
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