Kit and Shirley came to the rescue at Joy's screams, but Shirley held them off.
"She had it coming to her, girls. It will do her good."
Between Bet's bursts of laughter she managed to say, "Promise you won't talk about boys and love for a week at least, then I'll let you go."
"Don't be as unreasonable as all that," protested Shirley. "She might live through twenty-four hours of it, but not much longer."
"Then promise that you won't mention a boy's name for two days!" and for good measure another handful of water splashed into Joy's laughing face.
"I promise! I promise! Please let me go!" choked Joy who had opened her mouth just in time to get it full of water.
"All right! Here you go!" And Bet gave a quick shove, landing the dripping girl on her feet, then she stood back admiringly. "There is one fine thing about you, Joy Evans. You're a good sport. I couldn't be as good natured as that." Bet threw an arm about the smaller girl affectionately.
"Yes, I am good natured. I let you abuse me just turrible! I'm so kind and lovable and……"
"Give her another bath!" cried Kit, making a bound to catch Joy. But quick as a flash the girl had sprung to a rocky ledge and was scrambling up the cliff-side like a mountain goat.
The girls shrieked with laughter and the echoes resounded back and forth across the canyon like the voices of a thousand imps. This set them deliberately to letting their voices out in strange calls and weird whisperings in order to hear the echoes coming back to them.