“Take Cathalina in first,” sputtered Hilary, “and I’ll help you get Isabel in.”
Mickey helped the dripping Cathalina over the side of the rowboat, and with Hilary’s assistance drew Isabel up and over, putting her in the bottom of the boat with her head on Cathalina’s lap. Then Hilary scrambled in, and Mickey made haste to shore. By this time, they were where the river widened, just before emptying into the lake, and the shore was sandy. Mickey laid Isabel on the beach and began to work over her. Hilary helped, but told Cathalina to stretch out on the sand before she tried to climb the hill to the Hall.
“Go on, now, Miss Hilary,” said Mickey, “and have them get things ready at the hospital. She’s breathing and the water’s out of her. I’ll have her there in a jiffy.” But two or three of the girls from the lake shore who were half way up the hill already got Hilary’s word and sped more quickly than the tired Hilary to have the nurse at the little hospital annex ready to receive her patient. Cathalina, also, rose and dragged herself up the hill, after Hilary and Mickey, who had Isabel gathered in his strong arms, and wasted no time in climbing the ascent and hurrying across the campus.
The word went round. “Isabel Hunt’s drowned, and Cathalina Van Buskirk and Hilary Lancaster, too, they say.”
This was repeated outside of Isabel’s suite to Olivia, who was about to enter. Two girls had just come in, and were passing through the hall.
“No, they aren’t, either,” said one. “I saw them going into the pest house, but Cathalina could scarcely drag herself there. Mickey was carrying Isabel, and told us to ‘clear out’!” The girl giggled, in spite of the serious occasion. Olivia burst into the room with the news.
“Isabel drowned!” exclaimed Virginia. “Why, she is one of the best swimmers here! Didn’t she win a swimming meet at camp last summer?” Virgie had jumped up and her book had fallen to the floor. “I’m going right over. Why, we just came from there! We were all canoeing, and Isabel said she wanted to stay out a little while longer, and Mickey was right in the boathouse at the landing, working on a canoe.” As she talked, she was twisting up her hair, which she had been drying, and ran to the closet for dress-skirt and middy. “Why didn’t I dress when I came in!”
“Here, let me help you,” said Olivia. “You’re hands are all shaking, and you are trembling all over! I don’t believe Isabel is drowned, but we’ll go and find out.” Olivia might have hung up the kimono which she took from Virginia, but she threw it on the floor, and while Virginia fastened one garment, had the other ready to go over her head. “Where’s Avalon? Was she with Isabel?”
“I don’t know where Avalon is. She may be drowned, too, for all I know.”
“Cheer up. Remember your name’s Hope, as Isabel says.”