ed Hazel, who, with Tommy
and Buster, had joined the party at the end of the pier. Jane
explained what Harriet had proposed. Margery's teeth began to chatter
again.

"My--my weak heart won't stand any more," she groaned. "Don't ask me
to go into that horrid, cold water again. _Please_ don't!"

"You won't feel the cold once you are in," urged Harriet.

"No. I didn't feel it the other time, did I?"

"What? Go in thwimming," demanded Tommy. "I wouldn't go in that water
again for a dollar and fifty thentth; no, not for a dollar and
theventy-five thentth." Tommy began backing away, as though fearing
the others might insist and assist her in. Suddenly she uttered a
scream.

"Thave me!" yelled Tommy.

They saw her lurch backward; her feet left the pier; then came a
splash. Tommy Thompson had gone over backward and taken to the water
head first.

CHAPTER III

HARRIET HAS A NARROW ESCAPE

"Thave me! Oh, thave me!"

Tommy had turned over and righted herself before rising to the
surface. When she did appear she was within a foot or so of the pier.
Her little blonde head popped up from under the water all of a sudden,
and in that instant she opened her mouth in a wail for help. Tommy's
companions were fairly hysterical with merriment. Tommy yelled again,
begging them to "thave" her.

"I'll save ye, darlin'," cried Jane, throwing herself down and
fastening a hand lightly in Tommy's hair, whereat the little girl
screamed more lustily than before. "Lend a hand here, my hearties. The
darlin' wants to be saved. We'll save her, won't we?" Jane shouted in
great glee.

"Of course we will," answered Harriet. She leaned over the edge of the
pier, Jane raising the little girl until the latter's shoulders were
above water; Harriet got hold of her dress and worked her hand along
until she had grasped Tommy by the ankles.

"Let go!" yelled Tommy.

She meant for Harriet to release her feet, but instead Jane McCarthy
released her hold on Tommy's shoulders. The next second Tommy Thompson
was standing on her head in the pond with Harriet Burrell jouncing her
up and down, trying to get her out of the water, but taking more time
about it, so it seemed, than was really necessary. Every time Tommy's
head was drawn free of the water she uttered a choking yell. There was
no telling how long the nonsense might have continued, had not Miss
Elting thrust Harriet aside, resulting in Tommy's falling into the
water and having to be