"No such thing," replied Tom vigorously. "Here she comes now, bringing help as I expected I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself." He gave a sigh of relief when he saw Grace and the strange man approaching at a quick trot, the wagon and plank between them. His confidence in Grace had not been misplaced. He felt that they would soon be released from their perilous predicament.
Grace and the Strange Man Quickly Approached.
"All right," called Grace cheerfully as she approached. "Keep up a little while longer. We'll have you both out in a jiffy."
Both rescuers slid the plank on the ice until one end projected over the hole.
Then the man and Grace both lay flat down on the other end and Grace called "ready."
Julia Crosby seized the board and pulled herself out of the water, safe, now, from the breaking of thin ice at the edge.
"Now, Tom," cried Grace.
But Julia's considerable weight had already weakened the wood. When Tom attempted to draw himself up, crack! went the board, and a jagged piece broke off. This would not have been so serious if the ice had not given way. Then, into the water, with many strange, guttural cries, slipped the deaf and dumb man. Grace herself was wet through by the rush of water over the ice, and just saved herself by slipping backward.
There was still a small portion of the plank left, and, with Julia Crosby's help, Grace thought they might manage to pull the two men out.