CHAPTER XVI

DANNY FINDS MARIETTE--AND IS KIDNAPPED

She was no longer a dark-brown colour, nor had she long black hair. As Danny looked at her sad little pale face it seemed to him that she was extraordinarily like the Tramp!

“Oh, you’ve come, you’ve come--thank God!” whispered the girl. “I knew you would,” she added. “Scouts are like the knights in old days, aren’t they?”

“Yes,” said Danny, “I promised I would. Tell me, quick, what am I to do?”

“Listen,” said the girl, “and I’ll tell you who I am. We can talk safely, because Black Bill will be out half the night, and old Hannah is in a heavy sleep--she drinks, and once asleep nothing will wake her. First, I must tell you, I’m not a gipsy, like these people----”

“I can see that,” said Danny.

“Well, they stole me from my daddy ages ago--I think it must be seven or eight years. They’ve always kept me shut up in this place, except when they take me out and make me dance. When I used to cry for my daddy Black Bill used to beat me. I don’t cry now--I’m too miserable. They never give me a chance to talk to any one. But I read in a paper about Scouts, and when I saw you sitting so close to me at the circus, suddenly a great hope seemed to jump up in my heart. I was sure if you knew how terribly miserable I am you would help me to escape.”

“Yes, yes!” said Danny. “But tell me, what was your father?”

“An artist,” she said. “Oh, he used to paint such lovely pictures--full of fairies, they were! I often dream of them and--and--of him. Oh, my poor, poor daddy!” she said suddenly, with a great sob. “What have you done all these years without your little Mariette?” A big tear rolled down her cheek.

“I say, don’t cry!” said Danny, giving her his handkerchief. “Your daddy is quite near here. He is spending his life hunting for you, and praying God to let him find you. I promised to help him. How good God is to have let me find you!”

“I prayed, too,” whispered Mariette.

“Now,” said Danny, “how can we get you away? Shall I creep out of the field and fetch a party of police and men and have Black Bill arrested?”

“No, no,” said Mariette in a terrified whisper, “don’t leave me, don’t leave me! Take me with you--take me to my daddy! If you brought police it would be no use. Black Bill has a terrible way of hiding me. Besides, he is friends with all the police. It would be no good. Oh, take me with you!”

Danny looked about him. Would it be safe to take her across the open ground and get through the hedge? He would risk it. Once through they could run, and he knew every gap and short cut. They would make straight for the barn where her father was living during the hay harvest. He would think it was a wonderful dream when he saw his little Mariette, her golden curls shining in the moonlight, as if she really was a moonlight fairy.

“Can you climb out of the window?” whispered Danny.

“Yes,” she said. But before she had time even to begin, a cry of horror broke from her, and Danny started violently, for a rough hand had been laid on his shoulder.

“All right, young scoundrel,” said Black Bill, as Danny turned round and faced him. “Out of the window? That’s your little game, is it? We’ll see about that!”

Taking a piece of cord out of his pocket he knotted Danny’s wrists behind his back, then tied his feet together. Dragging him round to the caravan door he propped him up against the steps and entered.

A few blows woke old Hannah from her heavy sleep. He could hear Black Bill giving her orders. His struggles to free himself were useless; and even if he could have run away he would not have done so, for his one thought was to stay and help Mariette.

The noise had brought the two watchmen on the scene. They stood there quaking at the thought of what Black Bill would do to them for having allowed a stranger to intrude into the camp. And, sure enough, his rage was terrifying when he came out and saw them. When he had finished abusing them he sent one of them to fetch his two sons. Before long they had arrived. Taking one of them aside Black Bill gave him some instructions in a low voice, and turning to the other told him to loose Danny’s feet, blindfold and gag him, and then lead him to the happy home Black Bill had ready for him.

[Illustration: “All right, young scoundrel,” said Black Bill. “That’s your little game, is it?”

[_To face page 76._ ]

As the dirty handkerchief was tied over his eyes intense rage filled Danny’s heart.

“Good-bye, Mariette!” he shouted, before his captor could stop him. “Go on praying--we shall escape all right in the end!” Then a thick muffler was fastened over his mouth, and he felt himself being led away across the grass.

Over rough ground they went, along lanes, across ploughed fields. Every now and then Danny was lifted up and pitched roughly over a gate, or dragged through a hedge. It seemed to him that they had been walking for miles when at last his captor halted, and he heard the sound of a key grating in a rusty lock. He felt himself being led through a doorway, and his feet resounded with a hollow sound as he walked over a wooden floor.

“Sounds like an empty house,” he told himself. And the musty, close smell seemed to confirm this idea. Another door was unlocked, and Danny felt himself being led down some stone stairs. Then through another door they passed.

“Loose him,” said Black Bill’s harsh voice. This was done, then taking up an old tin can, Black Bill’s son went out and returned with it full of water. By it he placed a loaf.

“There you are,” said Black Bill; “you can feast on that for a few days. It will teach you not to come prying into other people’s business. Come,” he added, turning to his son. The two men went out, slamming the door behind them, and Danny heard their heavy footsteps going up the stairs.

Gradually his eyes got used to the darkness, and he found he was in a kind of cellar. It was empty save for a heavy wooden settle at one end. The only opening, besides the door by which he had entered, was a little barred window some ten feet up in the wall.

Sitting down on the settle, Danny heaved a heavy sigh. Then he suddenly remembered something, grinned, and began to whistle.

“Well,” he said, “this is an adventure anyhow, and I’m sure to come out all right.”