Part 29 (1/2)
”See here, don't you dare to speak of my father!” roared the bully in high anger. ”My father is as good as anybody. This is only a plot against him--gotten up by the Rovers and his other enemies.”
Dan Baxter's manner was so terrible that Dora sank back on a camp stool nearly overcome. Then, seeing some men at a distance, on the sh.o.r.e, she set up a scream for help.
”Here, none of that!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mumps, and clapped his hand over her mouth.
”Let me go!” she screamed. ”Help! Help!”
”We'll put her in the cabin,” ordered Dan Baxter, and also caught hold of Dora. She struggled with all the strength at her command, but was as a baby in their grasp, and soon found herself in the cabin with the door closed and locked behind her.
It was then that her nerves gave way, and, throwing herself on a couch, she burst into tears.
”What will they do with me?” she moaned. ”Oh, that I was home again!”
It was a long while before she could compose herself sufficiently to sit up. In the meantime the _Falcon_ was sailing down the lake toward Cayuga with all speed.
”This must be some plan of Josiah Crabtree to get me away from home,” she thought. ”Poor mother! I wonder what will happen to her while I am away? If that man gets her to marry him what will I do? I can never live with them--never!” And she heaved a deep sigh.
Presently she arose and walked to the single window of which the cabin boasted. It was open, but several little iron bars had been screwed fast on the outside.
”They have me like a bird in a cage,” she thought. ”Where will this dreadful adventure end?”
Hour after hour went by and she was not molested. Then came a knock on the cabin door.
”Dora! Dora Stanhope!” came in Dan Baxter's voice.
”Well?”
”Will you behave yourself if I unlock the door?”
”It is you who ought to behave yourself,” she retorted.
”Never mind about that. I have something for you to eat.”
”I don't want a mouthful.” And Dora spoke the truth, for the food would have choked her.
”You had better have a sandwich and a gla.s.s of milk.”
”If you want to do something, give me a gla.s.s of water,” she said finally, for she wished a drink badly, the cabin was so hot and stuffy.
Baxter went away, and presently unlocked the door and handed her the water, of which she drank eagerly.
”Where are you going to take me?” she questioned, as she pa.s.sed back the gla.s.s.
”You'll learn that all in good time, Dora. Come, why not take the whole matter easy?” went on the bully, as he dropped into a seat near her.
”How can I take it easy?”
”We won't hurt you--I'll give you my word on that.”