Miss Elting, Jane and the two men stood on shore, shouting with all
their might to Harriet Burrell. But Harriet did not hear their warning
shouts, nor had she need of warning. She knew only too well what was
occurring. Suddenly the long bridge caved in and went down well past
the middle with a tremendous crashing and snapping and roaring, sparks
and flames shooting still higher than before, the burning timbers
hissing and sending up a great cloud of steam as they fell into the
river.

Miss Elting, grown dizzy at thought of Harriet, had stumbled and
fallen. Jane McCarthy quickly raised and dragged the guardian away.

"Harriet!" shouted Miss Elting.

The frightened girls took up the cry, but there was no answer. Harriet
had gone down with the burning bridge.




CHAPTER VI

THEIR TROUBLES MULTIPLY

Miss Elting and Jane McCarthy had climbed down the embankment, and,
standing at the river's edge, scanned the water with pale faces and
anxious eyes. Dark shapes drifted past them, shapes that caused them
to start apprehensively as they caught sight of them.

Nearly all of the bridge that had been on fire was now in the water.