She heard the animal running down the stairs, there was the sound of a smack and a sharp yelp. Later, she saw the dogs--there were two of them--in the yard. Great black beasts, bigger than Alsatians, but lacking their fineness. They were prowling about, nosing into stable refuse. One of them saw her, growled and showed his fangs, the bristles stiff, and she hastily drew out of sight. She knocked again on the door, stamped on the floor, but attracted no attention, and though she heard the doctor’s voice and called to him he ignored her. Her situation was a dangerous one, and she began to understand dimly the reason for Dorn’s drastic action. Where she was she could not guess. So much of the country as she could see had no meaning for her; and, except that her window faced northward, she was unable to locate her position. The woman brought her up some more tea in the afternoon--vile stuff beside which Lizzy Smith’s concoctions were veritable nectar. “I insist that you leave this door open,” said the girl. “They’d tear you to pieces if I did,” said the woman. “There is no holding them with strangers. Hark at Bati now!” There was a snuffling and growling outside the door. “Go away, you! _Juldi_!” she cried shrilly in her queer mixture of English and Hindustani. The girl faced her. “I am not afraid of dogs,” said Lois steadily, and walked to the door. Before she was half-way the woman had overtaken her, and, catching her by the arm, had swung her round. “You’ll stay where you are, and do as you’re told, or it will be worse for you,” she said threateningly. “Where is the doctor? I wish to see him.” “You can’t see any doctor. He’s gone down to the village to get a drink.” She kicked away the dogs that strove to get through the half-open door, closed and locked it, and for half an hour Lois sat before her untasted meal, trying to think. The light was fading in the sky when there came the second dramatic interruption of that day. Lois was standing by the window, looking into the dreary yard and thinking of Michael Dorn. He had certainly become a bright nucleus of hope. Michael Dorn would not fail her; wherever she was, he would follow. Why she should think this, she could not understand. Why he should give his time and his thoughts to her protection, was a mystery yet to be solved. But he was working for her--working for her now. It was a comforting thought; she almost forgot her fears. Then from the yard below came the screaming voice of the gaunt woman. “I told you to wash those dishes, didn’t I? Never mind what you’re doing; when I give you an order you carry it out, you old gaol-bird.” “Why am I kept here?” Another voice spoke sweet and soft. Lois trembled at the sound. “He told me that----”