Mr. Ford seemed dazed--he did not stir for a moment but sat there
staring wildly at the group now coming up the path.

"Sarah has hurt her ankle," Joe hurried to say, and as his voice roused
the man from his frightened attitude, he sprang up and reached to take
his daughter from the young man's arms.

"I had better put her on a couch," objected Ralph, "Her ankle seems
quite painful."

"What has happened?" asked the father opening the door of the sitting
room and making ready the couch under the window.

"The girls did it," gasped Sarah, "that girl there, Tavia Travers!"

"You!" exclaimed the man, making a threatening move towards the accused
girl.

"It was an accident," interposed Dorothy, "we do not know how it
happened; we found her under a tree in the orchard."

"They do know," persisted the injured girl "They sent me up so high!--
oh, get a doctor, quick!"

Ralph had now placed Sarah on the couch, and "while Mr. Ford hurried to
call his wife, Ralph and Joe hastened off for Dr. Gray, leaving the
three girls together.

"Tell us about it," Dorothy pleaded, not wanting to leave Sarah until