"They aren't very pleasant," agreed Alice. "And to think that perhaps
those two girls may be--"

"Oh, my dear! Don't mention it! I can't bear to think of such a thing.
It's too horrible!"

"But I suppose there must be many such as that one, in the wilds of the
swamps and bayous," said Alice in a low voice, as she pointed her parasol
at a huge saurian.

"If there are any such, I don't want to know it--or see them," murmured
Ruth, again shuddering. "Oh, I hope we don't go too far into the wilds."

"So do I," agreed her sister.

That afternoon, calling his company of players together, Mr. Pertell
said:

"Friends, we will leave in two days for the interior. I want to get some
views along the rivers and bayous, where the scenery is wilder than it
is here."

"And where are we going, may I ask?" inquired Mr. DeVere.

"To a place called Sycamore, near Lake Kissimmee," was the answer.

"Oh, Ruth!" exclaimed Alice, impulsively, when she heard this.

"Yes, dear, what is it?"