Tommy’s belt gave way when her foot was almost within the guardian’s grasp, and her slender body shot downward.

CHAPTER XIII

PLACING THE BLAME

Such screams as rose from over the ledge none of that party ever had heard.  Harriet, it will be remembered, had hold of the little girl’s hands, or rather one hand, when Tommy’s belt broke.  The jolt was so great that it seemed to the two girls as if their arms would be pulled from their sockets.

Tommy thought, too, that she was being hurled to her death when she felt herself falling.  But Harriet, with unusual presence of mind, had clutched the little girl’s hand with a desperate grip.

“Give me the other hand,” she panted.

“I—­I can’t,” sobbed Tommy, who immediately began to wriggle in an attempt to reach the shelf.

“Then keep quiet.  Don’t stir.”  Instead of keeping quiet, the girl, now fairly beside herself with fear, began a series of lunges for the ridge above her.  The result was what Harriet had feared.  She felt herself slipping forward toward the edge.  In those few seconds Harriet Burrell came nearer to realizing what fear was than ever before.  To let go would be to save herself at the cost of Tommy’s life.  Harriet not only held on; but reached over her free hand which she clasped over that of her companion.  Now she slipped more than ever.  Her companions did not seem to realize what had occurred.  It had all come about so quickly that they did not quite comprehend.

“Grab me!” cried Harriet.  “I’ve got her!  Why don’t you do something?  I’m slipping over.  Quick!  For mercy’s sake, move!”

Jane McCarthy, who, with Janus, was still clinging to the rope, now dropped it and sprang forward.  Jane went down on her knees, grasping Harriet by the ankles.

“Hold me!  Are you all asleep?” shouted Jane.

Janus awakened suddenly.  But Miss Elting was a little ahead of him.  The guardian sprang behind Jane and slipped both arms around the latter’s waist.

“Help Harriet!” she cried.

Janus ran forward with a rope, making a noose in it as he ran.  The guide went down on his knees beside Harriet Burrell.

“Can you swing her a little without dropping her?” he shouted.

“Yes, but she’ll be dreadfully frightened.”

“We can’t help that.  Swing her,” commanded Janus.

Harriet did so, bringing from Tommy Thompson a series of terrified screams.  If any one else heard he must have believed that some one was being killed.  But her shouts and screams did no harm.  The guide took quick advantage of the opportunity offered by Harriet to slip the loop in the rope over one of Tommy’s feet, then draw it taut.

“I’m caught.  Mercy, I’m caught!” screamed Tommy.

“Hang on to her!  Don’t let go!  Stop that yelling until I tell you what to do!” commanded the guide.  “We’re going to pull you up the best way we can git you up.  If you don’t like it, don’t fight; just yell.  Hold her as she is, Miss Harriet, while I give her foot a yank.”