human
Lou, she said finally, as they walked on through the darkness,
gpt
I think I have the explanation.
human
What explanation? How to get out of these woods?
gpt
No, no. Of the reason why our gas ran out. I should have had enough to get to Syracuse. But do you remember hearing a plane land near to ours, while we were in the Convent?
human
Yes, of course. We both saw it.
gpt
Well, do you know what I believe? I think that was Bess Hulbert, in the Flying Club's Moth--and it was she who was following us all the way to the Convent.
human
Linda! cried Louise, in amazement.
gpt
But how could she ever know we were here? Not that I'd put it past her--but how could she possibly find out, or guess what we were up to?
human
I don't know, except that she may have seen us--or our names on the hotel register at Plattsburg. People who are committing crimes are always on the watch, you know, expecting to be caught.
gpt
How could she ever dump out our gas, in so short a time?
human
She didn't. She put a little hole in the gas tank, probably, so that the gas would leak out slowly. That would be a much meaner thing to do than to cut a strut, or injure the propeller, because either of those things would keep us from going up in the air without discovering it, and we wouldn't learn our danger from a leak without flying a while. Besides, whatever happened would happen when we were some distance away--so that she couldn't possibly be blamed! And it would be too late to do anything.
gpt
The sneak! denounced Louise, feeling almost hot for a second in her anger.
human
You're right, Linda--I'm sure you are! But really, it was intended murder!
gpt
Probable murder--if we couldn't make a landing or jump. But she thinks we are so inexperienced that we couldn't do either.... Yes, I really believe Miss Hulbert thinks we're dead now!
human
And won't she get fooled! exulted Louise.
gpt
Once we get back to civilization, we'll do plenty to her!
human
If we get back to civilization,