"Get in, Sue. Sit here and hold her beside you. I'll run the car."
Evidently there were only two seats to the motor car. Billie was squeezed into a seat beside the woman and while the peddler, Indian, or whatever he was, was cranking up the machine she opened her eyes and looked straight into the little pig eyes of a fat Indian squaw.
"Shut eyes," whispered Hot Air Sue and Billie promptly closed them again, feeling suddenly very wide awake and alert.
Presently they were moving smoothly and silently over the prairie. The automobile was a very fast one and the wind raised by the swift motion had a reviving, refreshing effect on the exhausted girl.
"Water and food," she whispered into the ear of Hot Air Sue.
"Umph!" grunted the squaw. "Girl ver' sick," she said to Hawkes. "Must have water and bread."
The man stopped the car and from under the seat drew forth a box of crackers and a bottle of water. Billie ate some of the crackers and drank deeply from a tin cup of the water. She never stopped to think of how clean the cup was or where the sandwich had come from.
Then she laid her head on the Indian woman's breast and pretended to go back to sleep.
"Where going?" she heard Hot Air Sue ask.
"Across the border," he said. "Into Colorado. We'll get there by evening."
The air was beginning to have a cool feeling. They had left the plains abruptly behind them and were nearing the mountains.
"I must get back tonight," said Billie to herself. "Cousin Helen will die of heart failure if I don't."
Although her body was exhausted, her mind was clear and with her eyes closed, she was able to think connectedly and deeply. "I am being kidnapped," her thoughts continued. "Hot Air Sue is my friend and will save me if she possibly can. The trouble is we haven't any money between us, I suppose."
Once after a long time they stopped and Hawkes jumped out and examined one of the tires.
"Sue save young lady," whispered the old Indian woman. "Sue not afraid. Don't wake up."
The man came and stood at the side of the car and looked into Billie's face.
"Hot Air Sue good old girl," he said. "Hot Air Sue won't be sorry she helped Hawkeseye. Give me water bottle. Hawkeseye get water. Hot Air Sue look after girl. She mustn't run away. No money, no girl."