Inactivity she could endure no longer.

There was one explanation that appeared to her more reasonable than any other; that was, that Bart had wavered in his resolution to relieve Markham, that the latter had died upon the tree where he was hiding, and that Bart would not show himself for the present where Ann could see him.

Ann did not believe in this explanation; but because of the apparition which she thought she had seen, because of the horrible nature of the fear it entailed, she determined that, come what would, she would go to that secret place which she alone knew and find out if her father had been taken from it or if any trace remained there to show what had really happened.

It was when the sisters were again alone for the night that she first broke the silence of her fears.
"Christa, father came to the window last night, but went away again before I could catch him." "Sure he would never show his face in this place, Ann.

You must have been dreaming!" "Well, I must try to find him.