_olla_ from you," Florence breathed. "Let's hurry back." 

The girls wheeled about and ran back down the stream. 

CHAPTER XIII 
THE POTTERY WOMAN'S WARNING 

On coming in sight of Miss Prudence and Peggy, the two girls checked their steps. 

"Let's don't mention seeing that man before Miss Prudence," Jo Ann warned. "No use alarming her." 

"All right," Florence agreed. "He didn't act as if he were dangerous, anyway. He ran, too." 

"He didn't want us to see him--to recognize him. What's he doing here?" Florence shook her head, puzzled. "I can't imagine. The pottery woman said they always went on to the city after getting the pottery." 

All at once it dawned upon Jo Ann that they had not got any ferns and would soon be back at the pool empty-handed. "Miss Prudence'll wonder why we didn't get some ferns," she said. "Let's stop this minute and pull up some." 

"All right." In a few more minutes they had carefully pulled up some clumps of the daintiest maidenhair specimens in sight and had wrapped elephant-ear leaves about their roots to keep the leaf mold from falling off. 

When they neared the pool Peggy called out, "What'd you see to make you come flying back so fast--a rattlesnake or a boa constrictor?" 

"Er--neither," Florence replied. 

To her and Jo Ann's relief Miss Prudence asked quickly, "Are there really boa constrictors around here? Did you ever see one here?" 

"Not right here," Florence replied guardedly. 

"Close here?" 

"Well--fifty miles or so to the south." 

"Hop on your horses and let's go this minute." Miss Prudence tapped her boot against her mount's flank and started riding down the path. 

In a few minutes the three girls were following. 

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