"I don't know how this happened. I am down here. That is all I can tell you about it."
Stevens had reached the end of the ladder by this time. He lowered his lantern, directing her to take it from the rope, then observing that he was not more than half a dozen feet from the bottom, he dropped lightly down beside her.
"Did you fall down here?" he asked.
"The last several feet I did," she answered. Bab was pale, but her eyes were bright.
"Then how did you get down this far? Didn't the landing stop you?" questioned the young man while looping the rope under Barbara's arms.
"Yes, the landing stopped me. I thought I surely had been killed, but after a little I pulled myself together and screamed for help. I guess no one heard me."
"They were excited. The house is in an uproar. Your sister is in the hands of her friends. I think she will be all right."
"My sister?" questioned Bab, opening her eyes wide.
"Yes. Didn't you know she fell in, too?"
"Tell me—was she—how did it happen?" demanded Bab, all in one voice. "Oh, it was awful! Mollie fell in, you say?"