CHAPTER VII A FRIGHT
"Gone!" echoed Jack, staring blankly around the room. "Where could shepossibly go?"
"I don't know; but you see she isn't here."
There were few places to look. Jack peered under the big bed, whileDesire looked in the clothes press and a deep chest.
"What shall we do?" she whispered, twisting her hands together and tryingto force back the tears. "Is Rene in your room?" as a sudden thoughtoccurred to her.
With two steps, Jack crossed the hall and stuck his head into the roomopposite.
"Yes; he's in bed."
Mrs. Riboux, sensing that something was wrong, came out of her room,followed by her husband. Their exclamations brought Prudence and Ormandto join the group. A few minutes of excited consultation resulted in Mr.Riboux going out to notify the authorities that a child was missing.
While the women searched the house from top to bottom, Jack and Ormand,aided by the feeble rays of a lantern, looked about the barns and yard. Agroup of men and boys from the town were soon scouring the nearby woods,and Desire, who had returned to her room after the fruitless trip throughthe various rooms, could see the moving lights and hear occasionalshouts.
The forced inaction maddened her. If there were only _something_ shecould do besides wait. What danger might not Priscilla be in while shestood helpless here?
After a long time Mr. Riboux, followed by Jack and Ormand, crossed theyard, and she ran downstairs hoping for news. Her brother merely shookhis head gravely when they met in the kitchen where Mrs. Riboux wasmaking coffee and setting out a lunch for the men who were still in thewoods. One by one they straggled in, reporting no luck at all.
Desire's own acute distress was increased every time she looked at Jack'sstern, set face. Well she knew by the deep lines between his eyes that hewas blaming himself for Priscilla's disappearance.
Although it had been a great relief to have Rene sleep through the firstexcitement, now it was a distinct pleasure to hear his voice fromupstairs and be able to run up and see what he wanted. At least itprovided something to _do_.
"I'm coming," called Desire, stopping in her room to get a lamp.
"Don't want you," replied Rene rudely, as she entered. "Want Prissy. Shewas going to catch the mouse," he added.
"The mouse," repeated his sister in bewilderment, feeling his head to seeif he were feverish.
"Yes," said the little boy, jerking fretfully away from her and pointingto the corner behind the bed.
There lay Priscilla, curled up on the floor, fast asleep, with Polly, thebig grey house cat, clasped tightly in her arms. The animal blinked atthe light and uttered a loud "Me-o-w!"
Desire, together with Jack who had by that time followed her, stoodspeechless, looking down at the sleeping child.
"I want to know if she caught that mouse," demanded Rene in positivetones.
At that moment Priscilla, aroused by the sound of voices, opened hereyes, a bit bewildered by the sudden awakening. She looked blankly fromone to another, her gaze finally centering on Jack's face.
"I didn't disobey you," she said. "Rene called me because he wasfrightened of a mouse. You said I might leave the room if he wantedanything."
"But what are you doing down here on the floor, darling?" asked Desiresoftly; for Jack could not speak.
"I got Polly and sat down here by the mouse's hole so's she could catchhim when he came out again; and we all kept so quiet I guess we went tosleep."
Jack picked the little girl up, carried her to the room across the hall,and held her close for a moment before laying her on the bed.
"Both of you get to sleep as soon as you can," he directed. "I'll go downand tell the family she's found."
"Is Jack angry at me?" inquired Priscilla, sleepily.
"Not a bit, dear. We thought you were lost. Everybody has been lookingall over for you, out in the barn, in the woods, and--"
"And here I was all the time," giggled the child, wholly unconscious ofhaving been the cause of great anxiety and effort.
Along the shore, the next morning, as the Wistmores started out afterparting reluctantly with the Riboux family, were hundreds of gullslooking for food, and the air was filled with their harsh croaking cries.Out on the blue waters floated others, at rest on the ripples. In themeadows herds of black and white cows wandered about, cropping the grassheavy with dew, their bells tinkling constantly as they sought forchoicer tidbits.
"Before we get to Saulnierville we make our first stop," said Desire,consulting the list she had taken from Jack's pocket.
"We'll be there shortly."
"Oh, I hope we sell just lots of stuff!" cried Priscilla, who was quiteherself again.
"Yes, lots of stuff," echoed Rene, grabbing Jack around the neck.
"Don't choke brother," laughed Desire, loosening the embracing arms.
Before many minutes passed, they came in sight of a small grey house. Animmense grey barn stood behind it, its double doors freshly painted abrilliant red. The farm was enclosed by a grey fence with double gates ofpure white.
"Why don't the gates and the doors match, I wonder," remarked Priscilla,who had an eye for color combinations.
"I haven't the faintest idea," replied Jack, bringing the wagon to a stopbefore a path bordered with clam shells. The path led up to the frontdoor, and another row of clam shells surrounded the house, which wasbuilt, like so many others in Nova Scotia, with overlapped shingles onone side and clapboards on the other three.
"Let the youngsters run about a bit while I go in," directed Jack,preparing to climb over the wheel.
At this moment the sound of galloping horses on the road over which theyhad just come made everyone turn; and they saw another wagon, thecounterpart of their own, swaying crazily from side to side as the driverurged on his excited animals.
"Runaway!" squealed Rene delightedly.
"They'll hit us!" shrieked Priscilla.
Jack deftly pushed off the road into a field, and jumped from the wagonready to be of assistance. His keen eye saw at once, however, that theapproaching team was not out of control. As soon as it came abreast ofthe Wistmore "store" the driver pulled up with a suddenness which threwthe animals on their haunches; and, leaping from his seat, he faced Jackbelligerently.