positions were growing more
and more desperate. Harriet Burrell's three companions were so firmly held
by the weight of the cots over them, that they were barely able to move.
Harriet being near the edge of the heap had a little more freedom. Of this
she was taking full advantage, wriggling desperately to enlarge the space
about her, seeking here and there for an opening through which she might
crawl in order to make a way for her companions, who were now crying
hysterically. Patricia, however, was more calm than any of the others save
Harriet herself.

All at once, the girl became conscious of a confused murmur of voices that
seemed to come from some distance away. She shouted again and again. At
last her calls were answered.

"Help is coming, girls," she cried in an encouraging voice. "Keep up your
courage."

"H-a-r-r-i-e-t?" wailed a voice. "Are you there?"

"Yes, Jane."

Then she heard the voices of Hazel and Margery. The latter two were half
crazed with fear for Harriet. The next time Jane cried out she was nearer
to the imprisoned girls.

"Call to me, darlin', so that I may know where you are," she shouted.

"We are right in the middle of the heap under the tent," answered Harriet.
"None of us is hurt. Is any one else hurt?"

"One girl was badly bruised. But oh, this is too bad. I'm coming. No, I
can't get any closer. What shall I do?" wailed Jane.

"Get something to cut away this canvas as soon as you can get to it. We
are smothering," returned Harriet.

"Jasper is going to cut the limbs of the tree away," answered Jane.

"No, no, no!" shouted Harriet. "He must not do that He will have the trunk
down on us and then we shall all be crushed. Have him try to reach us by
cutting away only the smaller branches of the tree, but don't let him cut
off any of the larger limbs. Tell him to hurry for we shall soon smother
in here. Watch him, Jane, to see that he doesn't do anything to increase
our danger."

"I'll watch him, my darling" returned Jane. "Oh, what a mess! What a
mess!"

Mrs. Livingston had caused the general alarm to be sounded, guardians
being ordered to have every available lamp in the camp lighted and brought
to the scene. Jane's, however, was the commanding force. Carrying a
lantern she took the directing of the rescue into her own hands, ordering
Jasper and the girls much as her father in other days had bossed gangs of
men.

First of all the canvas of the tent was cut near to where the fo