"And the other belongs to Nora Casey. She lost it a few days ago. She didn't want to make a fuss about it on account of you having lost yours, but I think she suspected this girl and determined to get it before she left camp. Isn't it awful?" and Patty shook her head. "You'd better take the chain off before she comes to."
Ethel made no reply but lifted Mattie's head and put the drinking cup to her lips. After a moment the girl took a swallow, then another, until she had taken it all.
"Don't give her any more now," said Ethel. "'First Aid' says, 'sip slowly in heat prostrations and give stimulants,' but we have none."
"Take them off, Ethel," said Patty, "she might get up and run." But
Ethel only looked.
Suddenly Mattie Hastings opened her eyes, gazed at the two girls, and at her shirt waist beside her; then she raised herself and put her hand to her neck. A scarlet flame surged across her face.
"You've had a sort of fainting spell," said Ethel. "You fell, and the heat and all made you unconscious for a while. Why did you run from us when we called?"
With her hands upon her chain the girl looked like a frightened animal.
Something stirred Ethel's pity.
"Don't be frightened," she said, "just tell us all."
Whereupon Mattie Hastings burst into tears.
"First hand me my ring," said Ethel, "and then tell us everything."