I was beginning to fall back into a light sleep when a sudden noise brought me back to life. It was the sound of a step, as if a person was moving very carefully down the hall toward the room where I work. In an instant, I was on my feet, and I reached for my gun. Without making a sound, I waited. Had the animals broken into the house while I slept? Even as I asked this question, the steps reached my door, stopped for a moment, and then continued down the hall. Silently, I walked to the doorway and looked out. Then, I felt a great sense of relief—it was my sister. She was going toward the stairs.

 

I stepped into the hall and was about to call to her when it seemed very strange that she should have moved past my door in that quiet and secret way. I was confused. For one short moment, the thought was in my mind that it was not her, but some new mystery of the house. Then, as I saw her old clothes, the thought passed quickly. There could be no mistake. Yet, I wondered what she was doing. Remembering how she felt the day before, I felt that it might be best to follow her quietly—taking care not to scare her—and see what she was going to do. I could take no risks while we were in danger.

 

Quickly, I reached the top of the stairs and stopped for a moment. Then, I heard a sound that sent me running down at a very fast rate — it was the sound of the metal parts of the back door moving. My sister was actually opening the back door. Just as her hand was on the last part, I reached her. She had not seen me, and the first thing she knew, I had hold of her arm. She looked up quickly, like a frightened animal, and cried out.

 

“Come, Mary!” I said in a strong voice. “What is the meaning of this? Do you not understand the danger? Do you want to throw our two lives away?” To this, she said nothing. She only shook with fear. For some minutes, I talked with her. I told her she must be brave. There was little to be afraid of now, I explained, and I tried to believe that I spoke the truth. But she must be smart and not try to leave the house for a few days.

 

At last, I stopped. It was no use talking to her. She was not herself for the time being. Finally, I told her she had better go to her room if she could not act in a normal way. Still, she took no notice. So, I picked her up in my arms and carried her there. At first, she cried out, but she was silent and shaking by the time I reached the stairs. Arriving at her room, I laid her upon the bed. She lay there quietly, neither speaking nor crying—just shaking with a very great fear. I took a cloth from a chair nearby and spread it over her.