o, Maude. It may relieve her a bit," said
Sam, meaning to be kind. Instinctively Rosalie looked about for the
person addressed as Maude. There was but one woman in the gang. Maude!
That was the creature's name. Instead of crying or shrieking, Rosalie
laughed outright.

At the sound of the laugh the woman drew back hastily.

"By gor!" she gasped; "the--she's gone daffy!"

The men turned toward them with wonder in their faces. Bill was the
first to comprehend. He saw the girl's face grow sober with an effort,
and realised that she was checking her amusement because it was sure to
offend.

"Aw," he grinned, "I don't blame her fer laughin'! Say what ye will,
Maude, your name don't fit you."

"It's as good as any name--" began the old hag, glaring at him; but Sam
interposed with a command to her to get them some hot coffee while he
had a talk with the girl. "Set up!" he said roughly, addressing Rosalie.
"We ain't goin' to hurt you."

Rosalie struggled to a sitting posture, her limbs and back stiff from
the cold and inaction. "Don't ask questions, because they won't be
answered. I jest want to give you some advice as to how you must act
while you are our guest. You must be like one of the family. Maybe we'll
be here a day, maybe a week, but it won't be any longer than that."

"Would you mind telling me where I am and what this all means? Why have
you committed this outrage? What have I done--" she found voice to say.
He held up his hand.

"You forget what I said about askin' questions. There ain't nothin' to
tell you, that's all. You're here and that's enough."

"Well, who is it that has the power to answer questions, sir? I have
some right to ask them. You have--"

"That'll do, now!" he growled. "I'll put the gag back on you if you
keep it up. So's you won't worry, I want to say this to you: Your
friends don't know where you are, and they couldn't find you if they
tried. You are to stay right here in this cave until we get orders to
move you. When the time comes we'll take you to wherever we're ordered,
and then we're through with you. Somebody else will have the say. You
won't be hurt here unless you try to escape--it won't do you any good to
yell. It ain't a palace, but it's better than the grave. So be wise. All
we got to do is to turn you over to the proper parties at the proper
time. That's all."

"Is the person you speak of my--my mother or my father?" Rosalie asked
with bated breath.

CHAPTER XIX