she began to take courage even against her better judgment, which told
her that Harriet could not possibly have escaped. Even granting that
she had, they would have seen or heard from her before this.

Janus stood dripping beside them.

"Now, you ladies go back. I'll do all the looking that's necessary.
Candidly, I don't think Miss Harriet escaped. She was caught when the
old bridge fell down, but I'll keep on looking for her. I'll keep
right on looking all the rest of the night."

Jane led Miss Elting up the bank despite the protests of the guardian
that she did not wish to go, but preferred to remain where she was.

"We can do nothing here," urged Jane, more gently now. It was all that
she could do to keep from breaking down and crying, but she knew she
must keep up her courage. Besides, she was still hoping, at times
almost believing, that they would find Harriet Burrell awaiting them on
shore.

"Didn't you find her?" cried Hazel. They had climbed the steep bank
and returned to the girls.

Neither woman answered.

Margery burst forth into a loud wail. Tommy and Hazel stood in blank,
rigid silence. They could not believe that Harriet was gone. Miss
Elting sank down on a pack, while Jane stood gazing moodily off over
the sluggish river.