Part 25 (1/2)
”My kingdom for a motor car!” cried Jane.
”Let me help you, Harriet.” Harriet attempted to rise, but had to sit down again. Jane slipped an arm about her waist and lifted the girl to her feet. ”Hadn't you better not sit down, darlin'?”
”I feel better standing up. Hazel isn't much injured, is she, Miss Elting?”
”I can't find that there is anything very serious. I think she must have b.u.mped her head in falling through the tree. She certainly has not added to the beauty of her face.”
Hazel shook her head and essayed a smile.
”Did I fall gracefully?” she asked plaintively.
”Will you listen to her?” laughed Jane. ”You did it as gracefully as the lady who dived from the top of a house into a tank full of water at the county fair last year.”
”What I can't understand is why Tommy should have missed such an opportunity to distinguish herself,” smiled the guardian.
”I thtood athide tho Januth could dithtinguith himthelf,” lisped Tommy.
”Well, I swum! I did it, too, didn't I? I'm not fit to guide a plow, but I never found it out till I tried to pilot this outfit over the hills.”
”Are thethe the hillth?” questioned Tommy.
”Yes, Miss.”
”Then, excuthe me from the mountainth.”
”I believe my tumble has cured my sprained ankle,” declared Hazel. ”I can't feel any pain at all there, except the smart where the skin is broken. Let me put on my boot.” Miss Elting slipped it on for her, and a.s.sisted Hazel to her feet. ”It is all right,” cried the girl.
”Isn't that strange?”
”Yeth. Thome thingth make thome folkth forget thome other thingth,”
observed Tommy sagely. ”Have you forgotten your troubleth, Harriet?”
”I think so, Tommy. I will race you up to the trail.”
”No; I can't rathe you up a hill, though I can fall down the hill fathter than you can, but I will help you up.”
”I'll do all the helping,” Ja.n.u.s informed them. ”Shall I carry Miss Holland?”
Hazel declared that she could walk and she did, with some a.s.sistance from Miss Elting. The others were able to take care of themselves, though Harriet's side pained her frightfully with every step. She uttered no complaint, pluckily keeping her distress to herself, but the guardian knew by the expression on the girl's face that she was in pain.
Returning to the party a brief conference was held, at which they decided to proceed and make the ”Slide” if possible before dark. There was no possibility of getting beyond that, but on the following day it would be necessary to make all haste, for the provisions would not hold out for more than another day, and even then they would have to go on short rations for the last two meals. It was a used-up party that started for the ”Slide” that afternoon. Had they but known it, they were destined to be still more weary before they retired that night.
The excitement of the day was not by any means ended. Dusk was upon them before they came out on more level ground and headed for the site chosen for their camp.
CHAPTER XVI
”SUCH A LOVELY SLIDE”
”I believe I am tired out,” declared Harriet laughingly. She sat down, then straightened and lay at full length on the ground.
”Thank goodness for a level spot on which to lay one's weary bones!”