e pointed with her finger to a spot about half a
mile off where the ground dipped slightly and formed a sort of hollow,
sheltered on the far side by a clump of stunted firs.

Darby had followed the direction of Moll's large forefinger with his
gaze. After a little he made out quite plainly, rising against the clear
sky beyond the low-lying ground, a faint trail of blue-gray smoke; and
lower down, considerably below the smoke, there shone a small spot of
light which winked intermittently through the gathering gloom, as if
behind it there blinked a very sleepy star.

"Ay, that's the caravan, sure enough," said Joe, in a tone of
satisfaction. "My, Moll, you are a cute un, an' no mistake!--Come on, my
young shaver; step out the best you know, for I'm wantin' some supper, I
can tell you!"

"But we're not going that way," said Darby, trying to withdraw his hand
from the vice-like grip in which it was held.--"Please put Joan down,
ma'am," he begged, turning to Moll. "I'm much obliged to you for
carrying her so far. Our way lies up the hill and yours down," continued
the child, bending his grave, innocent eyes upon the woman's hardened
countenance. "So you see we must part here," he added, with a brave
attempt at a smile.

"Must we?" and Joe Harris laughed harshly. "Look here, my chick," said
he, with an ugly leer, "you're comin' wi' us; that's settled, so you may
stow yer cheek an' hurry up, or it'll be the worse for you!"

"You stop, Joe," whispered Moll angrily, nudging her husband with her
elbow. "You'll frighten the little un, then she'll make a row, an'
somebody'll hear her. Leave them to me.--Don't mind the gentleman,
ducky," she continued, addressing Darby. "He's fond o' sayin' funny
things; that's his way. Do you see the smoke an' the light yonder?" she
asked, pointing in the direction of the caravan. "Well, that's our
house--the purtiest little house that ever you seed; an' when we gets
home there'll be some nice goody-goody supper for us. You come along,
sensible and quiet, an' you an' little missy here'll both get share.
Then after supper there's heaps an' heaps o' cur'osities for you to look
at. Our house is jest chock-full up wi' funny things."

Darby was in a difficulty. Moll certainly spoke very fair. He _was_
hungry, notwithstanding the refreshments he had consumed in the cabin of
the _Smiling Jane_, and the prospect of something savoury was
undoubtedly tempting. Then he dearly loved looking at things--od