"Pearl Graves has fainted," Walter said, hesitatingly.
"If we could only break down these seat-backs," cried Nan. "There are four rows between us and the side aisle."
"We can break them down," responded Walter, and immediately flung his weight against the back of the chair in which he had been sitting, glad to have some line of positive action suggested to him.
The boy's second attempt broke the back of the seat short off; it was built none too strong. He leaped over into the next row and quickly smashed his way through that.
"Come on, girls! I'll get you out," he cried, more cheerfully.
His sister and Bess climbed through the first aperture. Nan lifted Inez through and was about to follow, when Linda seized upon her jacket.
"You let me get out, Nan Sherwood!" she commanded, trying to pull Nan back.
"There is room enough—and time enough," panted Nan, resisting. "I must look after Inez."
"Let that young one go with Bess and Grace," Linda said. "Somebody's got to help me with Pearl. The silly has fainted."
Nan saw that this was so. She adjured Bess to take care of Inez.