"Quick, Constance! We must be off before the brute returns," I cried, taking hold of both her hands. To my appeal, however, she returned no answer, but sat still, her face, torn and bleeding, turned imploringly toward mine. "You’re hurt!" I exclaimed, filled with fear; "but come! I can carry you, and it’s not far"; and stooping I raised her in my arms as easily as I would a child. "No, I’m not hurt, Gilbert," she answered, trembling and clinging about my neck; "but I thought you were dead, and your springing up frightened me as much as the presence of the wolf." "Are you sure you’re not hurt in any way?" I asked, looking at her scared face and torn garments, not believing she could have got off so easily. "Yes—and you?" she answered, peering into my face. "I’m all right; but how could you have escaped so easily?" I asked, in wonder. "I don’t know, for I knew nothing after the first moment till I found you lying beside me," she answered, disengaging herself from my arms. "See where the brute held you," I answered, pointing with a shaking hand to the marks of its teeth in the heavy woolen frock she wore. "If my dress had been lighter, he might not have been able to carry me off at all," she answered. "But where is the beast, Gilbert? And see, you are covered with blood, too!" "Come! We must leave here as quickly as we can. The wolf didn’t have any more courage than a sheep, and ran away; but he may come back with the pack, if they’re near by," I answered, looking about uneasily. "How can you find the way, Gilbert? No one has ever been so far as this before, I know," she replied, scanning the dark trees as we hurried forward. "It’s no great distance, and I could find my way blindfolded," I answered, confidently; and so, guided by the sun, and this happily, we at last reached the edge of the forest just as the night was coming on. Here my mother, who had become alarmed at our long absence, was awaiting us, and as we came into view, she ran forward, crying: "My children! My children! How could you frighten me so!" When, however, she had come near to where we were, and saw the blood on my garments, she stopped and came nigh to falling, but recovering herself, hurried forward and clasped me in her arms, exclaiming: "My son! my son! What dreadful thing has happened to you?"