the babe is bonny. Here,
take her back, she's like--but never mind. You'll be sleepy, maybe, and
'ud like to rest a bit. I meant yer no harm, but Patrick's powerful, and
he and Nat, they does what they likes. They're the sons of Micah Jones,
and he was a strong man in his day. You'd like to sleep, maybe, Missy.
Here, Patrick, take the bowl from the girl's hand."

"I do feel very drowsy," said Flower. "I suppose it is from being out
all day. This hut is smoky and dirty, but I'll just have a doze for five
minutes. Please, Patrick, wake me at the end of five minutes, for I
must, whatever happens, reach the nearest town before night."

As Flower spoke her eyes closed, and the woman, laying her back on some
straw, put the baby into her arms.

"She'll sleep sound, pretty dear," she said. "Ef I was you I wouldn't
harm her, just for the sake of the babe," she concluded.

"Why, mother, what's took you? _I_ won't hurt Missy. It's her own fault
ef she runs away, and steals the baby. That baby belongs to the doctor
what lives in the Hollow; it's nought special, and you needn't be took
up with it. Ah, here comes Nathaniel. Nat, I've found a lass wandering
on the moor, and I brought her home, and now the mother don't want us to
share the booty."

Nathaniel Jones was a man of very few words indeed. He had a fiercer,
wilder eye than his brother, and his evidently was the dominant and
ruling spirit.

"The moon's rising," he said; "she'll be at her full in half an hour. Do
your dooty, mother, for we must be out of this, bag and baggage, in half
an hour."

Without a word or a sigh, or even a glance of remorse, Mrs. Jones took
the cap from Flower's head, and feeling around her neck discovered the
gold chain which held the little bag of valuables. Without opening this
she slipped it into her pocket. Flower's dainty shoes were then removed,
and the woman looked covetously at the long, fine, cloth dress, but
shook her head over it.

"I'd wake her if I took it," she said.

"No, you wouldn't, I drugged the soup well," said Pat.

"Well, anyhow, I'll leave her her dress. There's nought more but a
handkerchief with a bit of lace on it."

"Take the baby's shawl," said Nathaniel, "and let us be off. If the moon
goes down we won't see the track. Here, mother, I'll help myself to the
wrap."

"No, you won't," said the woman. "You don't touch the babe with the pale
face and the smile of Heaven. I'm ready; let's go."

The dogs were calle