"Yes, I'll do my best," she replied, catching her breath. She grew calm rapidly as he tried to reassure Lottie, telling her that water from the rising of the tide had overflowed the main ice and that thin ice had formed over it, also that the river at the most was only two or three feet deep at that point. But all was of no avail; Lottie stood out upon the ice in a panic, declaring that he never should have brought them into such danger, and that he must turn around at once and go back as they came.
"But, Miss Waldo, the tide is rising, and we may find wet places returning. Besides, it would bring us home very late. Now, Miss Carrie and I will drive slowly across this place and then return for you. After we have been across it twice you surely won't fear."
"I won't be left alone; suppose you two should break through and disappear, what would become of ME?"
"You would be better off than we," he replied, laughing.
"I think it's horrid of you to laugh. Oh, I'm so cold and frightened! I feel as if the ice were giving way under my feet."
"Why, Miss Lottie, we just drove over that spot where you stand. Here,
Miss Carrie shall stay with you while I drive back and forth alone."
"Then if you were drowned we'd both be left alone to freeze to death."
"I pledge you my word you shall be by that grate-fire within less than an hour if you will trust me five minutes."
"Oh, well, if you will risk your life and ours too; but Carrie must stay with me."
"Will YOU trust me, Miss Carrie, and help me out of this scrape?"