Part 5 (1/2)

”No,” said Nan.

”That is right,” said Amelia. ”We must give her a chance to swim when she strikes the water.”

”Oh, fiddlesticks!” murmured Rhoda.

But Nan saw Laura run and fill a big dipper with water from the spigot and give it to one of the other girls, who climbed quickly to the platform. Then Laura came to seize the victim's other arm.

She and Nan marched Rhoda, w.i.l.l.y-nilly, down the room and up the steps to the platform.

Rhoda stumbled on each step and held her head down. Nan, therefore, judged that Rhoda could see a little from under the bandage. But she did not call Laura's attention to this fact.

”Mount her quickly, slaves!” called Amelia from below. ”Force her to walk the plank instantly!”

There had been a stepladder set up against the first horizontal bar set, right at the end of the plank. Nan saw that the mattresses were all in place and that a fall from the plank would only be about three feet. Such a fall was not likely to be serious, and to girls used to athletic drill it seemed a mere nothing. And yet--

”Come on!” commanded Laura, half lifting Rhoda up the stepladder.

”Careful, Laura!” whispered Nan. ”If she should fall--”

”Then she will escape drowning,” said the red-haired girl, coolly and aloud.

”Fudge!” muttered the victim, who seemed in a very much disgusted mood.

”Beseemeth the candidate is not sufficiently impressed by her situation,” hissed Laura.

She and Nan had scrambled up the steps with the blindfolded Rhoda.

There was a cross-plank which gave the three uncertain footing.

”Oh, look out!” gasped Nan, wavering herself upon the edge of the plank.

”Hey! We don't want to have to raise the 'man overboard' cry just yet,” grumbled Laura. ”Easy there, Nancy!”

Nan whispered in Rhoda's ear: ”Walk straight ahead. It isn't hard.

I'll be ready to catch you.”

”Out on the plank, sawney!” commanded Amelia from below.

Laura pushed Rhoda ahead. The candidate for initiation, even if she could see a little from under the bandage, had at best a very uncertain idea of where she was, or where she was going. Besides, with one's eyes practically blinded, it is very difficult indeed to walk a chalk line, even on the floor. And this plank that was far from steady was only about a foot in width.

”Oh!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Rhoda, one foot before the other and her arms waving for a balance. The parasol did not help much.

”Oh! oh! oh!” was the prolonged wail from the crowd below.

”You--think--you're--so--smart!” Again the Western girl teetered back and forth. Laura gave her another slight push. Rhoda took one more step, and let the parasol fall.

”Good!” encouraged Nan.