But the gypsy did not know this, and so writhed into the woods like the snake of Eden--and of that same she was a very fair sample--until, hidden by the boles of ancient trees, she could stand upright.

When she did so, she drew a long breath, and wondered what was best to be done.
The most obvious course was to seek Ishmael and make a lying report of the conversation.

That his wife should have been with Lambert would be quite enough to awaken the civilized gypsy's jealousy, for after all his civilization was but skin deep.

Still, if she did this, Chaldea was clever enough to see that she would precipitate a catastrophe, and either throw Agnes into Lambert's arms, or make the man run the risk of getting Pine's knife tickling his fifth rib.

Either result did not appeal to her.