Laura Lee Hope

“ CHAPTER II A FINE CHANCE
"That Alice Jallow is certainly the meanest girl in Deepdale!" declared Mollie, with vehemence.
"And Kittie isn't much better," added Grace, with spirit. "I don't see how Margaret can go with them."
"She's a newcomer here, that's the reason," said Betty—bouncing Betty she was now, for she was whirling about and "teetering" on her skates in a dizzying fashion. "When she gets to know those girls she won't have any more to do with them than—we do."
"And there was a time, even after they made those first slurring remarks about Amy, that they seemed real nice," spoke Grace. ”

“ Finding an injured man in a lonely cabin, practically snowed in, was not the only surprise the girls were to receive that day. The other followed quickly on the heels of the first. It was Mollie who "sprung it," as Will said afterward, and even Grace did not rebuke him for his slang.
Betty, followed by the others—rather timidly followed, it must be confessed—approached the bunk where the man lay. He had indeed fainted and his face was woefully white. Then Mollie cried out:
"Why it's that man—the one who rescued us from the ice floe. It's the kind lumberman!" ”

“ For a time the ice boat went along well, halting occasionally as masses of snow clogged the runners. Then there came a jolt, and a puff of wind nearly upset it, as the craft did not properly answer the helm.
"Oh, my!" screamed Grace, as she clutched Betty. "We are going to upset." [111]
"No, we're not!" declared Allen, as he loosed the halyards, letting the sail come down on the run. "I guess we'll have to abandon the Spider," he went on, "and tramp it. The snow is too heavy. We may upset."
"Well, the girls are good walkers," observed Frank. ”

“ Franklin, with whom all the girls fell in love at first sight, suggested an early supper. And a most bountiful one it was, though the dining room was rather taxed. But that only made it the more merry.
"And now to get settled!" exclaimed Betty, as she and the girls went over to their cabin.
"You'll find the bunks all made up!" called Mrs. Franklin, "and if you haven't covers enough you'll find more in the big chest."
"That's good," agreed Grace. "I hate to be cold!"
"You want to get more flesh and you'll be warmer!" said Amy, who was rather plump. ”

“ Amy and I in one team, you and Grace in the other, Mollie. Whichever member of the team gets to the bend first will win. You see," Betty explained, "one of a team might fall, or turn her ankle, or get tired, and then the other could keep on. It's like a relay race."
"Oh, well, if I have to—I suppose I have to," and Grace said this with such a doleful sigh that the others laughed heartily, even quiet Amy joining.
"On your marks!" cried Betty. "Let's show [4] that we are worthy of our names—true Outdoor Girls." ”

“ There isn't an ice boat in camp, father said, but not far away a man has a sort of winter bungalow, and he keeps a number. Maybe he'll lend us one."
"And can you run it?" asked Amy, timidly.
"It runs itself—you just sit in it and the wind blows it along. All you have to do is steer," said Grace.
"You're getting to be quite an authority," declared Mollie. "Oh, but I know we'll have a fine time!"
"And we'll come up too, sometimes," put in Will. "That is, if you girls will let us."
"Of course," murmured Mollie. "Isn't that the telephone ringing, Grace?" for they were all on the front steps. ”

“ CHAPTER XV IN A TRAP
"Well, they beat us," said Frank mournfully, as Allen came up into the wind, and let the Spider glide easily over the ice, while the rival craft, its occupants visibly rejoicing, shot out of sight around a bend of the river. "They beat us good and proper."
"Yes," agreed Will. "But I don't believe they can do it again."
"Oh, yes they can," insisted Allen. "They've got a faster boat, there's no denying that. But of course we had a much bigger load than they did. They're lighter. ”

“ The sound of the cracking ice became oftener, and more than once Betty looked a bit apprehensively at Mollie. But they tried to conceal their growing uneasiness from Grace and Amy.
Suddenly there came a sharp report, louder than any that had gone before, and, involuntarily, Mollie raised the spiked wheel. The ice boat slowly lost headway.
"Don't stop! Don't stop!" cried Betty. "Keep on!"
"But it may be dangerous!"
"It will be more dangerous to stand still! Don't you know that a moving body has a better [159] chance over thin ice than one standing still? Keep going, Mollie, and head for shore!" ”

“ Grace had a [132] habit of saying surprising things when least expected.
"Yes, I am in here! Oh, don't go away and leave me!" begged the imprisoned one, sobbing hysterically. "I shall die if you do!"
"That's all right, Amy dear," answered Betty soothingly. "We won't leave you. Or, at least some one will stay with you. But perhaps you can find a way out yourself. Look and see, dear."
But it was only too evident that the bear trap was made to hold whatever unfortunate animal or human being got into it. ”

“ You travel around so much, and you meet so many strange people——"
"We do seem to," agreed Grace.
"Well, just let me know," finished Mr. Blackford.
For some little time they talked of the curious happening, and the perversity of fate that should provide for such a vital piece of the letter being missing. Then, after Amy had provided refreshments, the young men and girls prepared to take their leave.
"And you and Mollie won't forget to find out for sure if you can go to the lumber camp; will you, Betty?" asked Grace. "Let me know as soon as you can." ”

“ If we could only help him to straighten out the tangle!"
"We'll have to straighten out our own first," said Mollie, with a tense smile. "Do you think we are getting nearer shore, Betty?"
Betty was about to reply, when, with a sharp report, a large piece broke off their cake of ice. This left one of the runners on the forward cross-piece close to the lapping water.
"Oh dear!" cried Amy. "If this keeps up——"
"Isn't that a man over there?" suddenly cried Betty, pointing toward shore. "Yes, girls, it is. A man! Oh, shout to him! Call for help!" ”

“ They each had a gun.
"Then we girls will go for a walk," decided Betty. "The woods must be interesting at this time of year. And it isn't as cold as it was yesterday."
They set out, comfortably equipped for a walk, with short skirts and leggings, for the snow was rather deep. There were woodland trails and logging roads and the girls alternated on them; seeing much to wonder at and admire, for the woods in winter are more interesting than many suppose who have never seen them except in Summer or Fall. ”

“ Mollie was more like the Little Captain—brave and hopeful. Not that Grace and Amy were cowards—far from it—but they had not the buoyant reserve strength of their chums.
"Steady now, and I'll have you!" cried the man. He had come to a halt in his boat on a big swirling cake, which was keeping pace with the progress of the one containing the ice boat. "I'm going to make a line fast to you," the man explained, "and take my end ashore. Then I can haul you in. I don't dare risk taking you off in the boat. The ice is breaking up too fast. ”

“ This was a sight of some men fishing through the ice for pickerel, and the girls at once evinced an appetite for fresh fish.
"Why, we can do that ourselves," declared Will. "We'll try it when we get back."
"Oh, see if you can't get them to sell you some," begged Grace. "They will be fine for supper."
The men were very willing to dispose of some of their catch. They were lumbermen from a distant camp, which fact becoming known, Grace insisted on her brother inquiring if they knew anything of Paddy Malone. ”

“ We are up here to get as much fresh air as we can."
"Humph!" sneered Alice audibly.
"Well, we mustn't let business quarrels interfere with we women folks being friendly," said Mrs. Jallow in what she probably meant for a conciliatory tone, but which she only succeeded in making patronizing.
"No, indeed, we don't intend to," said Betty, calmly. "We hope you will enjoy it here."
"Well, the young folks do, if I don't," said Mrs. Jallow. "I like more conveniences than you have in a log cabin. But then it may do my nerves good to get a rest." ”

“ How are the runners; well sunk in?"
"Yes!" answered Betty, glancing to make sure. The steel runners of the cross-piece of the craft, as well as the steering plates in the rear, had, because of the fact that the boat had been stationary so long, sunk deep into the soft ice. The Spider was firmly anchored.
"The rope will hold better on your craft, than on the ice itself," the man explained after he had thrown it. "Have you made it fast?"
"Yes!" cried Mollie, who had assisted Betty in catching the line, and taking a couple of turns about a strong cleat. ”

“ Hurry home, and we'll see if we can get it working to-day."
"First you ought to do something to that eye," said Grace. "It will be black and blue; and you'll look disgraceful."
"No one will see it up here," said Will calmly. "It doesn't matter."
"Don't we girls matter?" demanded Mollie.
"Oh, well, I'll put some raw beefsteak on it when I get to the cabin. I've heard that's good. Jake caught me a hard one in the eye."
"Fighting! Disgraceful!" murmured Will's sister.
"It was the best way out—snowballs," said Allen in a low voice, while Will and Frank were comparing notes. ”

“ But the trouble was that there was no way of getting a hold on the smooth planks.
"We must go for help!" decided Betty after a few ineffectual attempts. "There is no use wasting time here."
"Oh, don't leave me!" cried Amy. "I can't stand it to be here alone!"
"Listen," said Betty. "Grace and I will go for help. It needs a man's strength to raise this door. Mollie will stay and keep you company, Amy. Grace and I will go to where the lumbermen are fishing. That is the nearest place, and the boys may be there also. We'll be as quick as we can." ”

“ Jallow, the father of your friend Alice——"
"She isn't our friend," said Grace, quickly.
"Well, anyhow, her father is mixed up in this lumber camp business. He owns a lot of property next to mine, and he claims some that I think should belong to me." [26]
"He does?" cried Mollie. "That's just like the Jallows! Always taking what doesn't belong to them—even the reputation of other girls. She borrowed my botany a year ago and never returned it."
Mr. Ford smiled. ”

“ Soon the party of young people were in a drug store, partaking of hot chocolates, and talking of the fun on the ice, while Grace spent some time at the candy counter, selecting a new variety of chocolates.
That evening Betty and Mollie called on Grace.
"Let's go over and cheer Amy up," proposed Betty, who was always thinking of some kindness.
"All right," agreed Grace. "Come into the library a moment. I'll get you that book I prom [21] ised, Betty. Oh, it's just splendid! You won't stop until you finish it." ”

“ This is a story which centers around the making and the enjoying of a mountain camp, spiced with the fun of a lively troop of Girl Scouts. The charm of living in the woods, of learning woodcraft of all sorts, of adventuring into the unknown, combine to make a busy and an exciting summer for the girls. ”

“ That the boys were much astonished, on their return from a little trip, to find a wounded lumberman in their cabin, is putting it mildly. And when they learned that it was the long missing Paddy Malone, who could give such valuable testimony for Mr. Ford, their astonishment knew no bounds.
"Say, you girls certainly do things!" exclaimed Will admiringly.
"They sure do!" agreed Allen, with a warm glance at Betty, who averted her eyes, and blushed, whereat Grace and Mollie nudged each other, to the further discomfiture of their friend. ”

“ The sharp report of the exploding bag echoed on the keen, wintry air, and the four girls glided off on their skates. Mollie and Betty, the two best skaters, rather hung back, letting the more unskillful Amy and Grace lead the way. The boys skated together in the rear.
"When are you going to spurt?" called Will, as he saw that the pace was not increasing much. [7]
"Time enough," replied Betty, narrowly watching her rival, Mollie.
"That isn't skating!" declared Frank with a laugh. "You girls are only creeping." ”

“ Blackford, who sat beside her.
"Here, what do you want?" blustered Mr. Jallow, as he came up. "Oh, it's you; is it, Ford? Well, you haven't any more right here than any one else. Get off. This is my land—the courts have awarded it to me."
"Under a misapprehension—yes. Because of false boundary lines—yes, Jim Jallow!"
"Who says the boundary lines are false?"
"I do!" cried Paddy Malone, standing up in the sled, and leaning on his crutch. "I say the lines were changed, Jim Jallow, and you know it! ”