“It’s—it’s near the spring,” panted Winona to Helen. “Oh, I do hope nobody’s fallen in!”
They arrived at the spring just as Adelaide Hughes and Mrs. Bryan reached it from another direction.
Now the spring was not an untouched, wildwood affair at all. The authorities had done things to it which made its water a great deal better for drinking purposes, but much less picturesque—and deeper. Its bed had been widened and lined with concrete, and barred across at intervals, whether to keep the earth back or the concrete solid nobody but the Town Council that had done it knew. And although falling between the bars didn’t seem very easy even for a slim, small girl, Edith seemed to have accomplished it. She was wedged between two of the bars across the water, and what was more, she had managed to drag Marie Hunter down with her in her fall. Marie only had one foot in the water, and she was struggling to get out, though the force of the stream was making it hard for her, for the pool was about four feet deep. But Edith, wedged between the bars, was devoting her energies exclusively to screaming for help. The reason was apparent when the rescuing parties came closer. One arm was caught down beside her, so that she could balance herself, but not get out. Winona took one look at the situation.
“We’ll get Edith out!” she called to Mrs. Bryan. “Can you manage Marie?”
Mrs. Bryan was a slender, delicate-looking woman, but she was stronger than Winona realized.
“Certainly!” she encouraged. And Helen and Winona began eagerly trying to extricate their friend.
It was impossible to reach Edith and take her free hand to pull her out by—the bank each side the sluice, or stream, or whatever you choose to call it, was too deep. Winnie thought a minute. Then she took off the long, strong blue silk scarf she wore in a big bow at the neck of her blouse.
“Can I have yours, too, Helen?” And Helen handed hers over promptly. Either alone was long enough, but Winnie wanted the two to twist together, for fear one would not bear Edith’s weight.
“Can you get around to the other side with your end, Helen?” she said.
Helen scurried around up back of the source. Then she and Winnie, each holding an end of the scarf-rope, walked down either side of the stream till they were parallel with Edith. They knelt down and lowered the scarf till Edith could slip her free arm over it, and pull herself up. With its aid as a brace, she managed to free the caught arm, jammed against her side. After that it was easy enough, and in a few minutes she extricated herself entirely, and half dragged, half pulled herself up the steep bank. By the time the girls were done pulling her out she and they were pretty well worn out, and they dropped on the grass, Helen and Edith on one side and Winnie on the other, and took time to find their lost breaths.