"By the peculiar manner in which she tosses her head. The one I speak of belonged to a circus company and had been trained to perform several tricks. I feel quite sure that this is the animal."
"But surely you do not intend hinting anything of the kind to them?" said Hilda, anxiously.
"No, but Planchette is perfectly quiet. If you will hold the lines a moment I will take a circuit and come up back of the tents, and while the gypsies are at supper will examine that horse."
"But what proof would a closer view give you?"
"One of the tricks of the circus horse was to kneel if touched upon a particular spot on his head. I know that spot and will put it to the test. You can watch from the carriage and see if I am right."
"Oh, Cousin Fred, do be careful! Suppose they should see you?"
"But I do not intend them to see me, and will be back in a moment." He swung himself lightly from the carriage and disappeared behind the thick underbrush.
Hilda gazed anxiously in the direction of the tents and saw Fred reach the place, keeping at the same time his attention upon the gypsies.
Patting the animal gently, and speaking in a low, soothing tone, his fingers glided to a spot upon her forehead. Instantly the intelligent creature knelt and laid her mouth in the outstretched palm of Fred. He raised his arm and she arose to her feet; and convinced that he was not mistaken, Fred went swiftly behind the tents on the way back to the carriage.
He found Hilda with a blanched face, a look of terror in her eyes, and seeming almost on the verge of fainting.
"Oh, Fred," she whispered, "the fortune teller sprang from behind that bush the moment you left, and I cannot tell you the terrible things she said to me! She heard all you said and has gone to tell them."
Fred was no coward, nor was he foolhardy. He realized the danger they were in, and his cheek grew as pale as that of his companion.
A commotion was visible among the gypsies--loud talking, curses and threatening looks toward the carriage, and a general uprising from the table.
Fred sprang to his place beside Hilda, took the reins preparatory to flight, had turned Planchette's head toward the road and reached to take the whip from the socket, when the bridle was grasped by one of the men.