As Dorothy and Tavia came into the schoolyard they saw Sarah Ford on the
swing, that hung from a heavy square frame.

Down went Tavia's books on the grass.

"First for a run under!" she called, and instantly a line of girls
formed, while Tavia led, of course, with such a "run under" that Sarah
tried to jump to save herself from another like it.

"Hold fast!" shouted the next girl, who already had her arms up to the
swing board. Then one after another they jumped to reach the board, and
send it higher and higher until the girl on the swing threatened to turn
over the frame.

"Oh, please stop!" she cried, "there goes the bell!"

One more "good push" sent her up into the air, and the girls were all
gone--school was in.

For one moment Sarah held on and then jumped--into the remains of the
janitor's rubbish fire!

Sarah Ford picked herself up. Her white dress was covered with soot and
dirt. The classes were called by this time, and she could not go into
the cloak room.

"Oh, that horrid mean thing, Tavia Travers!" she thought. "I will not
give the girls a chance to laugh at me," and, darting out of the gate,
she ran down the lane--away from school.