"A fine mess you made of things--letting them escape," growled John, as
he saw his two compatriots. "If I hadn't found them on the trail, by
sheer luck, they'd have been back at the lake by this time."
"Let them go--for heaven's sake, let them go, John," wailed Lolla.
"There is a devil fighting for them--he will kill you if you try any
longer to keep them from their friends."
"Pah! What child's talk is this? Be thankful that I do not beat you with
my stick for letting them get free!"
"Listen to her, John," said Peter, warningly. "She speaks the truth. It
was a devil that spoke from the air. I saw his horns and his red tail.
Be careful--he may be here now."
John laughed, scornfully.
"Run away, if you are afraid," he said. "I will manage alone now. I
would not trust you--you have failed me once, both of you. Do not think
you can frighten me into failure because you are as brave as
a--chicken!"
"Let them go, I say," said Peter, with a sternness in his voice that
gave Bessie a new ray of hope.
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