Part 3 (1/2)

It seemed a long time to the imprisoned boy, but as a matter of fact, Tavia was back very soon with ”reinforcements.”

Besides Dorothy and Ned, there came to the rescue a woman, who just happened by and heard of the danger. She knew the spring, and, depositing her basket of eggs in a safe place, pulled a fence rail from its post, and with Ned holding one end hurried on to the spring. By this time Nat was almost exhausted, for though it was an August day, standing to the waist in cold spring water was not an enjoyable position.

”I found the spring,” he tried to joke, as the others came up to him.

”So we see,” drawled Ned.

”Here,” called the strange woman, who evidently knew exactly what to do. ”Young man, you take this end of the rail to the other side. I'll hold my end here, and the boy can pull out across it.”

Dorothy and Tavia looked on anxiously. They had heard of persons being swallowed up in quick-sands. Might not this be such a danger?

The pool was uncomfortably wide just where Nat chose to try its depth, so that it was difficult to span it with the fence rail.

”Easy now,” called the little woman in the big sunbonnet. ”Take hold first, then draw yourself up.”

Nat was only too anxious to do as he was told. It did seem so good to have something solid within reach once more.

But tug as he would, he could not extricate his feet.

”Guess some Chinaman has a hold of me,” he said, trying to make the best of his predicament.

”Wait a minute,” called the farm woman. ”There, now, you take the rail to the top of the spring and get down on it. Then you (to Nat) swing right up on it--now there, you've got it! Hold tight. Come here young girls. Quick! Pull! Pull! Altogether! There you are!” and, at that moment, a very muddy form was dragged from the spring. Nat was on dry land again.

CHAPTER III

A QUEER SPRING SUIT

”Don't stop to talk unless you want to get the chills from that spring,” urged the little country woman in the big sunbonnet, ”but just chase across that field as fast as you can. If we are not on the road when you get there, keep right on running. It's the only thing. Then I'll see what I can do for you in the line of clothes. Sam hasn't got much, but they're clean.”

Nat stood s.h.i.+vering. The mud had relieved him of both shoes.

”Run along,” ordered the woman, ”I tell you I know all about the kind of chills that come from that spring water. Why, we don't even eat the watercress out of it this summer, so many folks that did eat it were taken down. My son Sam had a spell. The doctor stuck to it it was swimmin' but I knowed better; it was eatin' that poison watercress.”

By this time Nat had followed directions and was going across the fields as fast as his uncomfortable legs would carry him. Tavia was running also; she felt it was her duty to stick by Nat, and get to the road with him, in case he should need any help.

Dorothy could not hide her dismay. Nat might get cold, he certainly had spoiled some good clothes, and the automobile ride would not be as pleasant now. How could it be with such a soaked boy at the wheel?

And he was sure to stick to his post.

”Isn't it awful!” Dorothy remarked to Ned, as they hurried along after Nat and Tavia, while the country woman jogged on ahead of them.

”Nothing of the sort,” he contradicted her. ”It will add to his general knowledge, and what an experience it will be when it is handed out to the fellows! Nat frequently has a way of making narrow escapes.

Chances are, some subterranean monster held him down in that spring.

Oh, that accident will just be pie for Nat,” and his brother laughed at the possible story Nat would concoct about his spring bath.

Breaking through the clump of bushes that divided the field from the road Nat and Tavia could be seen racing up and down like a pair in ”training.”

”That's right,” called the woman, ”just cut across there to that house.

I'll be there almost as soon as you.”