"We're not tired," Allen shouted back. "The hotel is right ahead--we can carry her for the rest of the way."
"Just as you say," Roy answered. "But we are ready whenever you want us."
"All right," called Allen. "We may be glad of your help yet;" and so the little party went on.
A few moments later they heard voices directly ahead, and Anita--for that, she had said, was her name--raised her voice excitedly. "They are probably coming in search of me," she cried, cheeks flushing with the hope of it. "I knew they would! Oh, I knew it! Dad! Conway!" she called.
"Nita! where are you?" a voice shouted back, unutterable relief vibrating in every syllable. "Call again!"
Anita obeyed with a will. "Just keep on the way you are coming. I'm all right, but please hurry!"
Then the two relief parties came face to face. Frank and Allen set the girl gently upon her feet and her father caught her in his arms. "You're safe!" he murmured over and over again. "My little girl!" and the others turned away before the depth of his emotion.
His weakness lasted only a moment, then recovering his self-control he handed Anita over to the affectionate bear hugs of an elder brother, and turned to his daughter's rescuers.
"Madam," he said to Mrs. Irving, "if you will tell me to whom I am indebted for Anita's safe return, I will try to thank him or her or all of you as the case may be. Although thanks at this time seem a small return for such a service."
"I am sure none of us wish any thanks for whatever little help we may have been able to render your daughter," Mrs. Irving answered, with grave courtesy. "We can only thank a kind fate for leading us within hearing distance of her appeal for help. The rest is simply what you and your son would have done for any of us had we been in similar danger."
"That doesn't make what you have done any the less splendid," Anita's brother broke in impulsively, holding his sister as though he would never let her go again. "Anita is tired now, but when we hear the whole story, I know we are going to be even more grateful to you than we were before--eh, Anita?"
"Oh, they were wonderful to me," said the girl, her eyes shining like stars. "If it hadn't been for them--I don't dare--think----" and again her hand flew to her eyes to shut out the horror of that awful moment.