hill, but at length they were on
the frozen river, and headed for the place where the fishing was going
on.

"We are surely living up to our reputation as outdoor girls," panted
Betty as she walked along beside Grace.

"Yes--all but Amy. She is strictly in-doors now."

"Poor child! She does seem to have the most trouble!"

"Well, maybe it will soon be happily over."

"I hope so!"

Neither of them realized how soon the fates were to be kind to Amy in a
most peculiar manner.

"There are the fishermen!" exclaimed Betty a little later, as they made
a turn in the river, and saw several men on the ice.

"Yes, and the boys are with them. Oh, let's hurry!"

"I can't go a bit faster," said Betty. "You're a better walker than I,
Grace."

"Oh, no, only I'm not quite so stout--that's all."

"Stout is very kind of you to say. I'm afraid I'm getting
positively--fleshy, Grace."

"Nonsense! You're fine!"

"What's the trouble?" cried Will, running forward as he saw his sister
and Betty approaching. "Has anything happened?"

"Yes--yes," faltered Grace. "Poor Amy----"

"Is--is she----" began Allen, as he joined his chum.

"It's nothing at all!" said Betty, quickly, seeing that Grace, in her
nervousness, might give them a scare. "She is caught in a bear trap,
that's all, and we want you to help get her out."

"A bear trap!" cried Will. "One of those spring ones--with heavy jaws?"

"No, a sort of box trap," explained Betty. "We can't raise the door."

"By hemlock!" exclaimed one of the lumbermen who overheard the talk. "It
must be the trap I set for that young fellow over at the Jallow cabin."

"Did you set one for him?" asked Will, quickly.

"Yes, and I told him at the time it was a piece of foolishness. There's
no bears around now, anyhow, and I said some one might get in it by
mistake and be caught. I only rigged it up temporary. The two young
fellows wanted to see how it worked. They sprung it after I set it, but
they must have set it again, after I left, to see how it worked."

"Well, it's worked all right--now," said Will, grimly. "Come on, we must
get Amy out."

"That's what!" cried the lumberman. "Come on, Bill and Tom. Bring your
axes."

The little party was soon under way, led by the lumberman who recalled
the location of the old bear trap.

Betty and Grace, with the three boys, brought up in the rear.

"To think of poor Amy being in that trap!" mused Frank.

"Yes, and it was set by Jake Rossmor