omplished. But Julia Crosby,
triumphant leader of her class, and Julia Crosby cold and wet as a result
of her own recklessness, were two different beings altogether.

"Grace Harlowe has left us to drown," she sobbed. "I am so wretched. She
is a selfish girl."

"No such thing," replied Tom vigorously. "Here she comes now, bringing
help as I expected I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself." He gave a
sigh of relief when he saw Grace and the strange man approaching at a
quick trot, the wagon and plank between them. His confidence in Grace had
not been misplaced. He felt that they would soon be released from their
perilous predicament.

[Illustration: Grace and the Strange Man Quickly Approached.]

"All right," called Grace cheerfully as she approached. "Keep up a little
while longer. We'll have you both out in a jiffy."

Both rescuers slid the plank on the ice until one end projected over the
hole.

Then the man and Grace both lay flat down on the other end and Grace
called "ready."

Julia Crosby seized the board and pulled herself out of the water, safe,
now, from the breaking of thin ice at the edge.

"Now, Tom," cried Grace.

But Julia's considerable weight had already weakened the wood. When Tom
attempted to draw himself up, crack! went the board, and a jagged piece
broke off. This would not have been so serious if the ice had not given
way. Then, into the water, with many strange, guttural cries, slipped the
deaf and dumb man. Grace herself was wet through by the rush of water over
the ice, and just saved herself by slipping backward.

There was still a small portion of the plank left, and, with Julia
Crosby's help, Grace thought they might manage to pull the two men out.

But Julia looked hardly able to help herself. She sat shivering on the
bank trying to remove her skates.

"Julia," called Grace desperately. "You must help me now or these two men
will drown. Help me hold down this plank."

Aroused by Grace's appeal, Julia meekly obeyed, and, still shivering
violently, knelt beside Grace on the plank. But it was too short; when
Tom Gray seized one end of it he nearly upset both the girls into the
water.

"Oh, what shall we do?" cried Grace in despair when suddenly there came
the thought of the little wagon.

Quickly untwisting a long muffler of red silk from about her neck, Grace
tied it securely in the middle, around the cross piece of the tongue of
the stout little vehicle. Then she pushed