And then a dreadful thought flashed through her mind. Could it be possible
they had been drowned in the ford? But that moment her eyes saw something that
made her heart leap for joy, something that looked drowned enough, but wasn't.
Rudolph was running up the hill as fast as his soaking clothing would let him,
and, reaching the door breathless enough, he sank down on the floor of the
porch.

"Oh, Mrs. Gerald," he said, as soon as he could catch his breath, "Mabel
and Tattine are all right; they're safe in the log play-house at the
Cornwells', but we've had an awful fright. Is Barney home? When the hail came
I tied him to a tree and we ran into the log house, but he broke away the next
minute and took to his heels and ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
Barney's an awful fraud, Mrs. Gerald."

But Mrs. Gerald had no time just then to give heed to Barney's misdoings.
Seizing a wrap from the hall, she ordered Rudolph into the house and to bed,
as quickly as he could be gotten there, sent Philip to Rudolph's Mother with
the word that the children were safe, and then started off in the wagonette to
bring Mabel and Tattine home.

"Mamma," said Tattine, snuggling her wet little self close to her Mother's
side in the carriage, "Rudolph was just splendid, the way he hauled Barnev and
us and the cart out of the water, but Mamma, I am done with Barney now too.
He's not to be trusted either."

Mrs. Gerald thought of two or three things that might be urged in Barney's
favor, but it did not seem kind even to attempt to reason with two such tired
and soaking little specimens, so she only said, "Well, Barney can never again
be trusted in the ford, that's one sure thing."