"I won't run until I have to," she decided. Courage was required for a
girl to remain in Harriet's position under the circumstances, but
Harriet Burrell had plenty of this and to spare. In the meantime the
men were rapidly drawing near. They were conversing in low tones, but
the girl in hiding on the ground was unable to make out what they were
saying. Rather was her attention centered on what they were going to
do, which was the all-important question at that moment. But Harriet
was not left long in suspense. The men were coming straight toward
her. She could see them quite plainly now, and wondered why they did
not see her. It was evident that they had not yet done so, perhaps
because they were so fully occupied with their own affairs.
Harriet Burrell braced herself. To rise would mean instant discovery;
to remain as she was, possible avoidance of it. She decided upon the
latter course and lay still. Within a minute the expected occurred.
The men had swerved to their right slightly, raising the hope in the
mind of Harriet that they were going to pass her without discovering
her. Instead a heavy boot came in contact with her own feet. There
followed a muttered exclamation, the man pitched headlong, the girl
having stiffened her limbs to meet the shock the instant she felt the
touch of the boot against her feet.
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