mistakes,
but glories to unfold. Isn't it exciting! Aunt Audrey is just
fascinated with Mary, and is going to paint her as soon as things
straighten out, and I for one can feel the tangles putting out into a
straight line right now. Here they come, with their fish poles. Don't
they both look like a picture? Mary is so quaint, and Madaline is such
an adorable baby. Come on, and see the fish they didn't catch."

"We did, too, catch something," declared Madaline, when all four girls
met on the bridge. "We caught a lovely big fat turtle. Just see!"

It was indeed a lovely turtle she set down on the rough country walk,
and, perhaps scenting the damp grass near the brook, Mr. Turtle
promptly crawled off to possible seclusion and hoped for safety. Even
turtles have preferences, and do not always appreciate the personal
attention of Girl Scouts. They seem to prefer the company of hop toads
and toad stools.

"Oh, I'll lose him!" cried Madaline; "and I wanted him for Michael's
garden. He would chase all the other little eating bugs and worms,
wouldn't he, Mary?" and down the side of the bank, running to the
brook, Madaline pursued the recalcitrant reptile. But the hill was
very steep, the stones loose, and the sand slippery, and Madaline began
to slide.

"Oh, look out, Madie!" yelled Grace. "You'll slide right in the brook!"

But it was too late. Madaline had no chance to "look out." All she
could do was to slide, and that she kept at, rolling stones and tossing
sand down in a perfect avalanche.

"Oh! oh! oh!" screamed Mary, digging her heels deep in the loose bank
in an attempt to follow the sliding figure ahead. "You'll go right in
the brook and it's deep. We're so near the dam!"

"And you'll be in with her," screamed Cleo--"Madaline, grab that bush,
never mind the old turtle!"

But Madaline had now reached the bottom, and feet first she struck the
water, just as Mary grabbed her skirt and held on tight enough to keep
her from sliding in further.

"Oh, my!" cried Madaline, trying to back out. "I thought I was gone."

"You were!" insisted Grace, who had come to the edge by way of a safer
track through bushes instead of on an avalanche. "You almost
frightened us to death! Just see how swift the water is here."

"I don't want to see it. The earth is swift enough for me," declared
Madaline, shaking the water out of her slippers, which fortunately had
not fallen off in the water. "I have been both