CHAPTER XII—A NUMBER OF INTRODUCTIONS
“We must run, Ruthie!” Helen declared, instantly. “Now, there’s no use in our trying to face down that goat. Discretion is the better part of valor—— Oh!”
The goat just then shook his horns and charged. Ruth was not much behind her chum. She saw before Helen, however, that they were running right away from the Steele premises.
“We’re getting deeper and deeper into trouble, Helen,” she panted. “Don’t you see?”
“I can’t see much. Oh! there’s a tree we can both climb, I am sure.”
“But I don’t want to climb a tree,” objected Ruth.
“All right. You stay down and play tag with Mr. Billy Goat. Me for the high and lofty!” and she sprang up as she spoke and clutched the low limb of a widely branching cedar.
“I’ll never leave my pal!” Ruth declared, giggling, and jumping for another limb.
Both girls had practiced on the ladders in the school gymnasium and they quickly swung themselves up into the tree. The goat arrived almost on the instant, too. At once he leaped up with his fore-feet against the bole of the tree.
“My goodness me!” gasped Helen. “He’s going to climb it, too.”