It may be useful again, but
not with him, now. If we tried it, and it didn't work--"
"I understand," Dolly whispered back. "I think you are right, too,
Bessie. We'd be worse off than ever. I was thinking that if only some of
the other gypsies were here we might frighten them so much with it that
they'd make him let us go."
"Yes. We'll save it for that."
The gypsy was still breathing hard. He looked at the two girls
malignantly, but he saw that they were too tired to walk much unless he
let them rest, and, purely out of policy, and not at all because he was
sorry for them, and for the hardships he had made them endure, he let
them sit still for a while. But finally he rose.
"Come," he said. "You've been loafing here long enough. Get up now, and
walk in front of me--back, the way you came."
They groaned at the prospect of retracing their footsteps once more, but
he held the upper hand, and there was nothing for it but obedience. That
much was plain. Desperately, as they began to drag their tired feet once
more along the trail, they listened, hoping against hope for the sounds
that would indicate that some of the searchers they were sure filled the
woods were in the neighborhood.
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