“Let Mith Elting go, tho we can laugh at her,” suggested Tommy teasingly.  “Thhe won’t care if we laugh.”

“Do!” giggled Margery.

“I shall be delighted if doing so will furnish you any amusement,” answered the guardian calmly; “that is, provided you send Margery next, then Grace, and so on.”

Harriet promised to see that the order was followed out as suggested.  Miss Elting glanced up the sloping rock, took the line firmly in her hand, then waved a good-bye to the girls.  She stepped cautiously to the rock, braced first one foot then the other, and leaned back until her weight was directed in the right way.  She then began walking up the rock, hand over hand, with an ease that amazed the Meadow-Brook Girls.  Janus reached over and took firm hold of the guardian’s arm for the last step to insure her safety.

“I haven’t heard any one laugh down there, girls,” called the guardian, presenting a smiling face to them.  “You next, Margery.  I hope you can climb up as easily.”

“Why, I didn’t think it would be so easy.  Of course I can do it.  Tommy, you watch me carefully so you’ll know how to walk up.  It will be your turn next.”

“Yeth,” observed Tommy, winking solemnly as she caught Crazy Jane’s laughing eyes fixed upon her.

Margery took hold of the rope, meanwhile gazing up the slippery slope.  Her courage failed her for the moment; then, as the memory of the guardian’s easy ascent came to her, she nodded confidently and began the upward climb.

“Lean well back,” called Harriet.

“Hold fatht, girlth,” cried Tommy.  “If Buthter fallth there will be an earthquake.  I thouldn’t be thurprithed if the whole mountain fell in.”

“Keep still, you make me nervous,” rebuked Margery irritably.  “Isn’t it hard enough to climb this skating rink without being bothered by you?”

In her irritation Margery forgot to lean back.  She began to lean forward to assist herself, believing perhaps she could make more rapid headway in the latter position, at the same time finding fault with the girls for making fun of her.

“Lean back!” came the warning shout from above and below.  But the warning was not heeded in time.  Margery Brown’s feet slipped.  She threw out her hands, though not soon enough to prevent striking her nose against the hard rock with such force that it seemed to the girls that it must have been driven into her face.

“Lean back, Buthter!” shouted Tommy, this time in all seriousness.

Instead of leaning back, Buster slipped back, landing at the foot of the incline a sobbing, screaming heap.  Harriet and Jane sprang forward, gathering up the unfortunate girl in their arms.  Margery’s face was covered with blood.  The blood was still streaming from her injured nose.

“Oh, get some water,” cried Hazel.

“There is none to be had here,” answered Harriet.  “Does your nose hurt you much, Margery?”