Part 23 (1/2)
”It seems to have been propped up with a stick,” went on Amy ”When I walked in, so foolishly, I must have knocked the stick down, and the door fell The prop is here Oh, I'll never be so curious again!”
The two girls talked to each other to keep up their spirits, and wondered how long Betty and Grace would be
Meanwhile the two latter were having no easy ti theot off the trail, and wandered into the back country It was not until they got on a high bluff, and saw the river below them, that they realized their mistake
Then cath they were on the frozen river, and headed for the place where the fishi+ng was going on
”We are surely living up to our reputation as outdoor girls,” panted Betty as she walked along beside Grace
”Yes--all but Amy She is strictly in-doors now”
”Poor child! She does seem to have the most trouble!”
”Well, maybe it will soon be happily over”
”I hope so!”
Neither of them realized how soon the fates were to be kind to Amy in a most peculiar manner
”There are the fishermen!” exclaimed Betty a little later, as they made a turn in the river, and saw several men on the ice
”Yes, and the boys are with theo a bit faster,” said Betty ”You're a better walker than I, Grace”
”Oh, no, only I'm not quite so stout--that's all”
”Stout is very kind of you to say I' positively--fleshy, Grace”
”Nonsense! You're fine!”
”What's the trouble?” cried Will, running forward as he saw his sister and Betty approaching ”Has anything happened?”
”Yes--yes,” faltered Grace ”Poor Aan Allen, as he joined his chu that Grace, in her nervousness, ht in a bear trap, that's all, and ant you to help get her out”
”A bear trap!” cried Will ”One of those spring ones--with heavy jaws?”
”No, a sort of box trap,” explained Betty ”We can't raise the door”
”By hemlock!” exclaimed one of the lumbermen who overheard the talk ”Itfellow over at the Jallow cabin”
”Did you set one for him?” asked Will, quickly
”Yes, and I told him at the time it was a piece of foolishness There's no bears around now, anyhow, and I said soed it up te felloanted to see hoorked They sprung it after I set it, but they ain, after I left, to see hoorked”
”Well, it's worked all right--now,” said Will, griet Amy out”