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Page 43
Grace soon saw, however, that the idea was not entirely idiotic. Later she
was to offer up a prayer of thanks for that same child's wagon. The deaf
and dumb man was wearing heavy Arctic rubbers, which kept him from
slipping; while Grace, whose soles were as smooth as glass, kept her
balance admirably by means of the other end of the plank.
Tom and Julia Crosby had now been nearly ten minutes in the water. Twice
the ice had broken under Tom's grasp, while Julia, who seemed unable to
help herself, had thrown all her weight on the poor boy, while she called
wildly for help and heaped Grace with reproaches for running away.
"If it were not for the fact that it would be the act of a coward,"
exclaimed Tom at last, his teeth chattering with cold, "I would let go of
your arm and give up the job of supporting you in this ice water for
talking about Grace like that. Of course she has gone for help. Haven't
you found out long ago that she is the right sort?"
"Well, why did she go in the wrong direction?" sobbed Julia. "Everybody is
over on the other bank. There is nothing but an ice house over here."
"You may trust to her to have had some good, sensible reason," retorted
Tom loyally.
"I don't think I can keep up much longer," exclaimed Julia, beginning to
cry again.
"Keep on crying," replied Tom exasperated. "It will warm you--and remember
that I am doing the keeping up. I don't see that you are making any
special effort in that direction."
Once Tom had endeavored to lift Julia out of the hole, and he believed,
and always insisted, in telling the story afterwards, that if she had been
willing to help herself it could have been accomplished. But Julia Crosby,
triumphant leader of her class, and Julia Crosby cold and wet as a result
of her own recklessness, were two different beings altogether.
"Grace Harlowe has left us to drown," she sobbed. "I am so wretched. She
is a selfish girl."
"No such thing," replied Tom vigorously. "Here she comes now, bringing
help as I expected I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself." He gave a
sigh of relief when he saw Grace and the strange man approaching at a
quick trot, the wagon and plank between them. His confidence in Grace had
not been misplaced. He felt that they would soon be released from their
perilous predicament.
[Illustration: Grace and the Strange Man Quickly Approached.]
"All right," called Grace cheerfully as she approached. "Keep up a little
while longer. We'll have you both out in a jiffy."
Both rescuers slid the plank on the ice until one end projected over the
hole.
Then the man and Grace both lay flat down on the other end and Grace
called "ready."
Julia Crosby seized the board and pulled herself out of the water, safe,
now, from the breaking of thin ice at the edge.
"Now, Tom," cried Grace.
But Julia's considerable weight had already weakened the wood. When Tom
attempted to draw himself up, crack! went the board, and a jagged piece
broke off. This would not have been so serious if the ice had not given
way. Then, into the water, with many strange, guttural cries, slipped the
deaf and dumb man. Grace herself was wet through by the rush of water over
the ice, and just saved herself by slipping backward.
There was still a small portion of the plank left, and, with Julia
Crosby's help, Grace thought they might manage to pull the two men out.
But Julia looked hardly able to help herself. She sat shivering on the
bank trying to remove her skates.
"Julia," called Grace desperately. "You must help me now or these two men
will drown. Help me hold down this plank."
Aroused by Grace's appeal, Julia meekly obeyed, and, still shivering
violently, knelt beside Grace on the plank. But it was too short; when
Tom Gray seized one end of it he nearly upset both the girls into the
water.
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