ck slough that was to be her grave, perhaps, but she obeyed without a
word. Stretching her arms as far as they would go, she touched the end
of the stake,--touched, grasped, held fast; and now Peggy, still holding
fast to her end, began to wriggle back, slowly, cautiously, moving by
inches.

"Kneel down on the edge, Margaret!" she said; "don't come over, but
reach out and give us a haul in when you can touch. It's getting pretty
deep here!"

Margaret knelt and reached out her arms; could she touch them? Peggy was
sinking now, but she still moved backward, dragging Rita with her; they
were close by,--she had hold of Peggy's skirt. The stout gathers
held,--which was a miracle, Peggy said afterward,--and the next moment
all three girls were sitting on the safe, dry ground, crying and holding
each other tight.

CHAPTER VI.

THE FAMILY CHEST.

Little was said on the homeward walk. Rita walked between her two
cousins, holding fast a hand of each. She seemed hardly conscious of
their presence, however; she sobbed occasionally, dry, tearless sobs,
and murmured Spanish words to herself. Margaret caught the word
_"Madre!"_ repeated over and over, and pressed her cousin's hand, and
spoke soothing words; but Rita did not heed her. Peggy walked quickly,
head in air, cheeks glowing, and eyes shining. All the awkwardness, the
hanging head and furtive air, was gone, and Margaret looked at her in
wonder and admiration. But both girls were a piteous sight as regarded
their clothes. From head to foot they dripped with black mud, thick and
slimy. Peggy's dress gave no hint of the original colour in the entire
front, and Rita's was little better. Their very faces were bedabbled
with black, and they left a black trail behind them on the grass. In
this guise they met the astonished gaze of John Strong as he passed
through the garden on his way to the seed-house. He came hurrying toward
them with anxious looks.

"My dear children," he cried, "what has happened?" Then, in a different
tone, "I beg your pardon, young ladies! I was startled at seeing
you,--there has been some accident?"

But Rita was herself again now in an instant. Her eyes blazed with angry
pride.

"Keep your place, John Strong!" she said haughtily. "When we address
you, it will be time for you to speak to us." She swept past him into
the house, her superb bearing presenting a singular contrast to her
attire; and Peggy followed her, already beginning to giggle