"You are almost up to us, Tommy," encouraged the guardian. "Be very
careful. Make no sudden moves. Don't try to take hold of the edge
when we get you level with it. We shall have to pull you over the last
two or three feet by taking hold of you. Then we will have something
to be thankful for, won't we?"

"Yeth," wailed a weak voice from over the side.

"Ready!"

This time Tommy came up so close that the guardian was able to touch
her. Miss Elting leaned over and patted Tommy on the shoulder
reassuringly.

"One more long, strong pull and we shall have you within a little way
of safety. Girls, are you ready for the last pull?"

Margery was breathing heavily, Hazel, too, was taking short, excited
breaths.

"Yes, when you are ready," answered Hazel. "Get ready back there,
ready to hold fast after the last pull. Don't give way the fraction of
an inch," called Harriet. "This is like things I have read about
Alpine climbing, except that I guess they don't pull them up dangling
in this fashion."

"Pull!" called the guardian. "Steadily and slowly this time."

The girls were breathing heavily now.

"Stop!"

"Oh, am I up?" wailed the little, lisping girl.

"Yes. Now be perfectly quiet. Harriet, can you help me?"

"Yes. All hold fast. I am going to let go. Step back a little
farther, girls. There!"

"We have it," shouted Janus.

"We have," cried Crazy Jane.

Harriet stepped forward.

"Hold up your arm, Tommy," directed the guardian. "You take that arm,
Harriet. Now one foot, Tommy. I'll take that. Don't move about any
more than you can help. Wait! Her arm first. Have you got it,
Harriet?"

"Yes."

Snap! Tommy uttered a wild scream of terror. Miss Elting was reaching
for the upraised foot.

Tommy's belt gave way when her foot was almost within the guardian's
grasp, and her slender body shot downward.

CHAPTER XIII

PLACING THE BLAME

Such screams as rose from over the ledge none of that party ever had
heard. Harriet, it will be remembered, had hold of the little girl's
hands, or rather one hand, when Tommy's belt broke. The jolt was so
great that it seemed to the two girls as if their arms would be pulled
from their sockets.

Tommy thought, too, that she was being hurled to her death when she
felt herself falling. But Harriet, with unusual presence of mind, had
clutched the little girl's hand with a desperate grip.

"Give me the other hand," she panted.

"I--