Badly frightened, both Viola and Elmer clutched frantically at the edges of the ice, only to have them break away, sometimes in small chunks, again in large pieces.
“Let Viola hang onto the edge by herself. Go farther down, you Craven!” shouted Harry as he dashed toward them.
But instead of obeying, having found a piece that would hold, the rich boy clung to it, allowing Viola to be carried past him.
“Oh, if I were only in the water with him, I’d fix the coward!” cried Harry. “I only wish the others were near enough to see what he did.”
Thanks to his speed, our hero was so close to the hole that he was obliged to exercise caution lest he, too, break through.
“Here, give me a hand. That ice’ll hold you!” shouted Elmer, as his rival approached.
But Harry seemed not to hear him.
“Hey, you fool, get me out of this; then we two can get Viola.”
His pleading, however, was without avail. Straight along the edge of the hole Harry skated until he was abreast of the girl of whom he was so fond.
“Just keep hold of that ice cake a few moments longer,” he called encouragingly. “I’ll have you out in no time.”