"Garrett!" she cried, turning.
"Go on! Keep moving!" he shouted. But Pat, terror-stricken, stood still, stretching out her arms imploringly. Garrett reached her just as the ice with a sharp crackle broke into pieces, dropping them both into the water.
Its iciness for a moment stunned Pat. Then she slowly realized that Garrett was supporting her with one arm and begging her to cling to the thin edge of the ice, to which he was holding with his other hand. His steady voice gave her courage! She tried to say something but her teeth only chattered together.
"We'll get out all right!" Garrett said, hopefully. "Hold on as lightly as you can!"
"Oh, don't let go of me--don't let go of me!" implored Pat, wanting to cry.
"I won't! Keep up your nerve!" And Garrett strengthened his hold under Pat's arm. He looked about him. From a tree growing out of the bank stretched a bare limb just a little way out of reach.
"We'll work along slowly until you can reach that branch! Take it easy, Pat!"
He began moving his grasp on the edge of the ice, slowly, cautiously, for sometimes it cracked, sending terror to Pat's soul! She recalled hearing someone tell how very deep the water was in the Inlet! And it was so black and cold!
"Come on! We'll make it!" he called out cheerily. They drew nearer and nearer the branch; soon Pat could reach it.
"Now let go of the ice and grab it! I'll hold you!"