She hardly understood the words, so great was her terror. But she saw the tree and Joe, and, letting go her hold of Harry, clutched both in a death-like grip. Then Joe caught her tight and soon carried her to the shore.
“My, but that was more than I bargained for!” gasped Harry, when he managed to crawl from the stream.
“I don’t like the river at all,” came from little Mary. Then she looked at her wet and muddy frock. “Oh, my beautiful dress! What will mamma say?”
“Never mind the dress,” answered Joe.
He took her to the log cabin, and Harry followed. One of the children had just brought in word that Mary had fallen into the river, and Mrs. Pembly was highly excited.
“My child! my child!” she exclaimed. “Is she safe?”
“Yes, she’s all right,” answered Joe. “Harry saved her.”
“Joe had something to do with it,” put in Harry.
The story was soon told, and Mrs. Pembly thanked them over and over again for their services.
“I have warned Mary not to go near the river,” said she. “She was a naughty girl to go.”