Neither woman answered.

Margery burst forth into a loud wail.  Tommy and Hazel stood in blank, rigid silence.  They could not believe that Harriet was gone.  Miss Elting sank down on a pack, while Jane stood gazing moodily off over the sluggish river.

Janus came in a few moments behind the guardian and Jane, his arms hanging limply at his sides, his chin lowered almost to his chest.

“I’m afraid it isn’t any use to look further,” he said.  The little party scarcely heard the guide.  Jim had gone on up the bank.  They could hear him whistling and chirping to the missing horses to call them to him.  Then they caught the sound of a whinny and a moment later another.  The animals had heard and recognized their master.  Jim captured and haltered them with the ropes that he had brought from the carry-all for the purpose.  He then led the animals off to one side, where he secured them to trees.  The driver then walked slowly along the bank to join the others of the party.

Suddenly Jane McCarthy cried out sharply, “Who’s that?”

A series of little splashes had been heard out in the river; then, out of the gloom, grew the dim outlines of a moving figure.

“Who is it?” cried Miss Elting, scarcely daring to trust her voice.

“It is I. What is all the excitement about?” called a familiar voice.

“Harriet!”

A chorus of screams greeted Miss Elting’s cry.  Four girls and their guardian, regardless of the wetting they were receiving, rushed helter-skelter into the river, throwing themselves upon the staggering Harriet.  They snatched her up, carrying her ashore despite her struggles and protests.  They laid her down on the packs, each trying to do something for their companion whom they had believed to be lost.

“For goodness’ sake! what is the matter?” demanded Harriet, sitting up.

“Lie still, dear,” urged Miss Elting.  “You will be all right in a few moments.”

“All right?  There is nothing the matter with me, except that I’m wet and cold.”  Harriet got up and shook herself, gazing anxiously at her companions.  “What is it, girls?  Tell me!”

“Oh, Harriet, don’t you know?” breathed Hazel.

“No, I don’t.  You are all here, aren’t you?” she demanded, with a quick glance about her.

“Yes, now we are,” nodded the guardian.  “Don’t you understand?  We thought you had gone down with the bridge.”

“Well, I did go down, but not with the bridge.  What of it?”

“We thought you were dead,” continued Miss Elting, her voice shaking.

Harriet looked from one to the other of her friends.  “Why, you poor dears, no wonder you looked so woe-begone.  Now that it is all over, I don’t blame you for thinking so.”

“Well, I swum!” muttered Janus, combing out his whiskers with the spread fingers of his right hand.

“So did I,” laughed Harriet.  “That’s why I’m here.”