a cannon. Hazel and Tommy were also pitched from the
vehicle, Miss Elting and Margery clinging to the seats as the wagon
toppled over on its side.

"Let go!" shouted Miss Elting. "You'll be killed!"

But Harriet clung to the single rein, the frantic animal dragging her away
at a frightful rate of speed.

CHAPTER V

THEIR TROUBLES MULTIPLY

Harriet Burrell's position was, indeed, a perilous one. She was too plucky
to release her grip on the rein, no matter what the cost to herself, and
her gown. Clinging desperately to the rein she was jerked violently across
the log road, the horse dragging her after him as he bolted in among the
trees on the opposite side.

Harriet still hoped that she might be able to check the animal and bring
it to a standstill. She did not pause to think what a foolhardy thing she
was doing. All of a sudden the animal swung about in a half circle. He
literally cracked the whip with Harriet Burrell. The rein slapped the side
of a big tree. Harriet was lifted from her feet and hurled with great
force into the middle of a heap of brush. The dead branches snapped under
her weight and she landed at the bottom of the heap, then lay still.

Miss Elting upon finding that the other three girls were more scared than
hurt, had run after the fleeing horse that was dragging Harriet away. She
cried out in her alarm as she saw the girl land in the brush heap. But by
the time Miss Elting had reached the spot, Harriet's pale, scratched face
appeared above the top of the brush.

"Oh, my dear, my dear! Are you hurt?"

"Oh, I am all right, thank you," answered Harriet with a brave smile.
"Was--was any one injured?"

Before answering Miss Elting had plunged into the brush waist deep to lend
a hand to Harriet. The gowns of both women were considerably damaged
before Harriet had been assisted from her uncomfortable predicament.

"You poor girl!" exclaimed Miss Elting.

"I am somewhat the worse for wear," smiled Harriet ruefully.

"Thave me, thave me!"

At sound of the familiar voice and the familiar words they turned to see
Tommy running toward them.

"Jathper hath a fit," cried Tommy.

Miss Elting and Harriet ran back to the scene of the accident as fast as
they could go. Harriet was limping a little. They found Jasper sitting at
the base of the tree, holding his head and groaning. Hazel and Margery
stood pale-faced gazing down at him.

"What seems to be the matter with him?" questioned Mis