ard any one laugh down there, girls," called the guardian,
presenting a smiling face to them. "You next, Margery. I hope you can
climb up as easily."

"Why, I didn't think it would be so easy. Of course I can do it.
Tommy, you watch me carefully so you'll know how to walk up. It will
be your turn next."

"Yeth," observed Tommy, winking solemnly as she caught Crazy Jane's
laughing eyes fixed upon her.

Margery took hold of the rope, meanwhile gazing up the slippery slope.
Her courage failed her for the moment; then, as the memory of the
guardian's easy ascent came to her, she nodded confidently and began
the upward climb.

"Lean well back," called Harriet.

"Hold fatht, girlth," cried Tommy. "If Buthter fallth there will be an
earthquake. I thouldn't be thurprithed if the whole mountain fell in."

"Keep still, you make me nervous," rebuked Margery irritably. "Isn't
it hard enough to climb this skating rink without being bothered by
you?"

In her irritation Margery forgot to lean back. She began to lean
forward to assist herself, believing perhaps she could make more rapid
headway in the latter position, at the same time finding fault with the
girls for making fun of her.

"Lean back!" came the warning shout from above and below. But the
warning was not heeded in time. Margery Brown's feet slipped. She
threw out her hands, though not soon enough to prevent striking her
nose against the hard rock with such force that it seemed to the girls
that it must have been driven into her face.

"Lean back, Buthter!" shouted Tommy, this time in all seriousness.

Instead of leaning back, Buster slipped back, landing at the foot of
the incline a sobbing, screaming heap. Harriet and Jane sprang
forward, gathering up the unfortunate girl in their arms. Margery's
face was covered with blood. The blood was still streaming from her
injured nose.

"Oh, get some water," cried Hazel.

"There is none to be had here," answered Harriet. "Does your nose hurt
you much, Margery?"

"Oh, ye--ye--yes," sobbed the girl. "My nose is broken. Oh, what
shall I do? What shall I do?"

"Wait!" Harriet tied the end of the rope to the back of Buster's belt.
"We will let them pull you up. I think Mr. Grubb will know where to
find water up there."

"I don't want to go up," protested Margery.

Jane was now mopping the blood from Margery's swollen face.

"Ithn't it too bad that Buthter ith tho awkward," said Tommy in a
sym