"Don't let them come too near me, will you, Allen?" begged Betty. "I don't like them much more than Grace does."
"Anybody would think you were talking about some lion or tiger from the jungle," laughed Allen, as Will handed him the bait, "instead of three little, harmless, unoffending worms——"
"Who seem to be running in a streak of hard luck," Frank finished, as he cast his line into the water.
"It does seem foolish," Betty admitted, taking her rod from Allen's hand, "but I can't help it. Come, little fishes," she called, casting her line far out into the pool. "Right this way! You have got to live up to the reputation Mollie has given you."
Allen had just succeeded in landing a magnificent, big fish, and was holding it down to keep it from sliding into the water, when a terrified cry broke the stillness.
"Help! help! I am drowning."
For one stupefied instant, the fishers gazed dumbly at one another. Then Allen released his hold on the big fish, letting it slide unheeded into the water, and led the dash through the woods.
"Help! help!" called the voice again, fainter this time.
"Keep up your courage!" Allen shouted. "We are coming!"