When the meeting was over, the people gathered in groups and talked with

one another. The girl who had handed the book came over and spoke to the

strangers, putting out her hand pleasantly. She was the missionary's

daughter.

"What is this? School?" asked the stranger eagerly.

"Yes, this is the schoolhouse," said the missionary's daughter; "but this

meeting is Christian Endeavor. Do you live near here? Can't you come every

time?"

"No. I live a long way off," said the girl sadly. "That is, I did. I

don't live anywhere now. I'm going away."

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"I wish you lived here. Then you could come to our meeting. Did you have a

Christian Endeavor where you lived?"

"No. I never saw one before. It's nice. I like it."

Another girl came up now, and put out her hand in greeting. "You must come

again," she said politely.

"I don't know," said the visitor. "I sha'n't be coming back soon."

"Are you going far?"

"As far as I can. I'm going East."

"O," said the inquisitor; and then, seeing the missionary's daughter was

talking to some one else, she whispered, nodding toward the man, "Is he

your husband?"

The girl looked startled, while a slow color mounted into her cheeks.

"No," said she gravely, thoughtfully. "But--he saved my life a little

while ago."

"Oh!" said the other, awestruck. "My! And ain't he handsome? How did he do

it?"

But the girl could not talk about it. She shuddered.

"It was a dreadful snake," she said, "and I was--I didn't see it. It was

awful! I can't tell you about it."

"My!" said the girl. "How terrible!"

The people were passing out now. The man was talking with the missionary,

asking the road to somewhere. The girl suddenly realized that this hour of

preciousness was over, and life was to be faced again. Those men, those

terrible men! She had recognized the others as having been among her

brother's funeral train. Where were they, and why had they gone that way?

Were they on her track? Had they any clue to her whereabouts? Would they

turn back pretty soon, and catch her when the people were gone home?

It appeared that the nearest town was Malta, sixteen miles away, down in

the direction where the party of men had passed. There were only four

houses near the schoolhouse, and they were scattered in different

directions along the stream in the valley. The two stood still near the

door after the congregation had scattered. The girl suddenly shivered. As

she looked down the road, she seemed again to see the coarse face of the

man she feared, and to hear his loud laughter and oaths. What if he should

come back again? "I cannot go that way!" she said, pointing down the trail

toward Malta. "I would rather die with wild beasts."




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