A QUESTION OF POLITICS
"Lay her over on her back!"
Jane obeyed Miss Elting's command promptly. The guardian, using her
wet handkerchief, cleared Harriet's mouth by keeping the tongue down
to admit the air.
"Work her arms back and forth. We must set up artificial respiration,"
she directed.
Jane, without any apparent excitement, began a steady movement of the
patient's arms, bringing them together above the head, then down to
the sides. She continued this as steadily as if she were not face to
face with a great tragedy. She did not yet know whether or not it were
a tragedy; but, if appearances went for anything, it was. In the
meantime the guardian had glanced over her shoulder at the pond. She
saw the trunk slowly drifting in.
"Get it and open it, Hazel," she commanded.
"I haven't a key."
"Break it open with a stone. Never mind a key."
Hazel ran out into the water until she was up to her neck, then she
swam out. Reaching the floating trunk, she got behind it and began
pushing it shoreward. Margery and Tommy stood watching the
proceedings in speechless horror. Hazel got the trunk ashore, when,
following the guardian's directions, she broke the lock open with a
stone.
"It's open," she cried.
"Are the things inside very wet?"
"No; they are just as dry as they can be."
"Good. Are Harriet's clothes there?"
"I think so. Shall I take them out?"
"Not just yet. I will tell you if they are needed."
Hazel understood what was in the mind of the guardian. Were Harriet
Burrell not to recover, the dry clothing would not be needed.
Nevertheless, Hazel piled the contents of the trunk on the ground,
then replaced it, leaving Harriet's belongings at the top of the pile,
so that they would be ready at hand in case of need. In the meantime
Crazy Jane and Miss Elting persisted in their efforts to resuscitate
the unconscious girl. Though no sign of returning life rewarded their
labor, they continued without a second's halting. Half an hour had
passed. That was lengthened to an hour, then suddenly Jane stopped,
leaned over and peered into the pale face of Harriet.
"I see a little color returning!" she cried in a shrill voice.
"Hurrah! Harriet's alive!"
"You don't thay?" exclaimed Tommy.
"Keep her arms going! Don't stop for a single second," commanded Miss
Elting. "Hazel, take off Harriet's shoes. Beat the bottoms of her
feet. Oh, if we had something warm to put her in. Margery, you get out
Harriet's clothing from the trunk."
"I--I can't," answered Buster in a weak voice.
"Buthter ith too nervouth. I'll get them," offered Tommy. She did,
too. Now that she had something to do, she went about it as calmly as
though she had had no previous fear. "Are thethe what you want, Mith
Elting?" she asked.
"Yes; bring them here. She is breathing. Faster, Jane, faster!"
"Don't pull her armth out by the roootth," warned Tommy. The guardian
made no reply. It was a critical moment and Harriet Burrell's life
hung on a very slender thread. Return to consciousness was so slow as
to seem like no recovery at all. The spot of red that had appeared in
either cheek faded and disappeared. Miss Elting's heart sank when she
noted the change in the face of the unconscious girl. Jane saw it,
too, but made no comment.
Tommy, having taken the clothes from the trunk, now very methodically
piled them up near at hand, so that the guardian might reach them
without shifting her position materially. Then the little girl stood
with hands clasped before her, her eyes squinting, her face twisted
into what Jane afterward said was a really hard knot.
Two tiny spots of red once more appeared in each cheek of Harriet's
white face.
"Shall I move her arms faster?" asked Jane.
Miss Elting shook her head. "Keep on as you are. I don't quite
understand, but she is alive. Of that I am positive."
For fully fifteen minutes after that the two young women worked in
silence. They noted joyfully that the tiny spots of color in Harriet's
cheeks were growing. The spots were now as large as a twenty-five-cent
piece. Miss Elting motioned for Jane to cease the arm movements, then
she laid an ear over Harriet's heart.
"Keep it up," she cried, straightening suddenly. "We are going to save
her." Margery, who had drawn slowly near, turned abruptly, walked away
and sat down heavily. Jane's under lip trembled ever so little, but
she showed no other sign of emotion, and methodically continued at her
work.
"Now, as soon as we can get the breath of life into her body, we must
strip off those wet clothes and bundle her into something dry. We
shall be taking a great chance in undressing her in the open air, but
the fact that Harriet is in such splendid condition should go a long
way toward pulling her through. I wish we had a blanket to wrap her
in. However, we shall have to do with what we have."
Jane kept steadily at her work, her eyes fixed on the face of the
patient. She made no reply to Miss Elting's words. Tommy, however,
tilted her head to one side reflectively. Then she turned it ever so
little, regarding the broken trunk as if trying to make up her mind
whether or not she should hold it responsible for the disaster. After
a few moments of staring at the trunk she sidled over to it, and,
stooping down, began rummaging through its contents. From the trunk
she finally drew forth a long flannel nightgown. This she carried over
and gravely spread out on the pile of clothing that she had previously
placed near Miss Elting. The guardian's eyes lighted appreciatively.
"Thank you, dear. That is splendid," she said, flashing a smile at
Tommy. "You are very resourceful. I am proud of you."
"You're welcome," answered Grace with a grimace. "Ith there anything
elthe that I can do?"
Miss Elting shook her head. The smile had left her face; all her
faculties were again centered on the work in hand. Shortly after that
the two workers were gratified to note a quiver of the eyelids of the
patient. This was followed by a slight rising and falling of the
chest, and a few moments later Harriet Burrell opened her eyes, closed
them wearily and turned over on her face. Crazy Jane promptly turned
her on her back, and none too gently at that.
"Plea--se let me alone. I'm all right," murmured Harriet.
"Help me carry her out yonder under the trees," ordered the guardian.
"There will be less breeze there."
"I'll carry her, Miss Elting." Jane picked Harriet up, and, throwing
the girl over her shoulder, staggered off into the bushes with her
burden. Harriet was heavy, but Jane McCarthy's fine strength was equal
to her task. Miss Elting had gathered up the clothing and followed.
Tommy started to accompany her, but the guardian motioned her back.
"Jane and I will attend to her," she said. Tommy pouted and strolled
over to Margery.
"Is--is Harriet going to die?" wailed Margery.
"No, Buthter, she ithn't."
Margery turned anxiously away. By the time the guardian reached the
spot where Jane had put Harriet down, the latter had fully recovered
consciousness; but she was shivering, her lips were blue and her face
gray and haggard except for the two faint spots of color that had
first indicated her return to consciousness.
"Hold her up while I strip off her waist," commanded Miss Elting.
Harriet protested that she was able to stand alone, but just the same
Jane supported her. It was the work of but a few moments to strip off
the cold, wet garments and put on dry ones, including the flannel
nightgown.
"Let me lie down a little while," begged Harriet weakly.
"No; you must walk. Jane, will you keep her going?"
"That I will. Come to me, darlin'."
Harriet got to her feet with the assistance of her companion. Jane
then began walking her slowly about. The color gradually returned to
the face of the Meadow-Brook Girl, the gray pallor giving place to a
more healthy glow. She wanted to talk, but Miss Elting said she was
not to do so for the present. Now, Tommy and Margery followed her
about, though without speaking. This walking was continued for the
better part of an hour. In the meantime Miss Elting was considering
what might best be done. She decided to go in search of some one who
would take them to their destination. After a talk with Harriet, and
leaving directions as to what was to be done during her absence, the
guardian set out, walking fast. She realized the necessity of warm
drinks and something to assist in stirring Harriet's circulation. The
Meadow-Brook Girl's escape from drowning had been a narrow one, but no
one realized the necessity for further treatment more than Miss Elting
did.
After a time Harriet insisted on walking without the support of Jane's
arm, but it was a difficult undertaking. Harriet had to bring all the
resolution she possessed to the task of supporting her weakened limbs;
but she managed it, with now and then a rest, leaning against a tree
or a rock. Tommy had found her tongue again, to keep up a running fire
of inconsequential chatter that served its purpose well, assisting
Harriet in keeping her mind from her own troubles.
The guardian returned, after having been absent half an hour. She came
running down the byway, shouting before she appeared in sight of the
party to know if all were well.
"Oh, Harriet, I'm so glad to see you looking better! I have a boy and
a democrat wagon to take us to the real cove. This isn't the place at
all. Lonesome Cove is nearly five miles from here. But look! I've
something that will please you!" exclaimed the guardian.
"What ith it?" demanded Tommy, edging near.
"Coffee!" exclaimed Miss Elting triumphantly.
"But how are we going to cook it?" cried Jane.
"Get the coffee pot. It is in one of the packs that we saved. We have
neither milk nor sugar, but we shan't care about that. I met a boy, as
I have told you. He had been to mill with a grist, and was also taking
some groceries home with him. I secured the coffee by paying double
price for it, but consider it cheap at that. Hazel, you and Margery
will gather some dry wood and make a fire." Jane already had gone to
look for the coffee pot. She found it, after opening one of the wet
packs.
"The fire is laid," announced Hazel, "but we haven't any matches. What
shall we do?"
"Mith Elting hath thome matcheth," answered Tommy.
"How do you know, my dear?" The guardian laughed merrily.
"I thee a box in your pocket."
"You see too much," declared Margery.
"Yes, I bought matches, too." Miss Elting herself applied a match to
the sticks that had been laid for the cook fire. "Harriet, come right
here by the fire and warm yourself."
"Where is the boy?" asked Harriet.
"He will be along in a few minutes. I ran all the way back. He will
drive in and wait until we are ready. I promised him two dollars if he
would take us to our destination."
"Does he know where it is?" questioned Jane.
"He says he does, but--" The guardian flushed and checked herself
abruptly. "I nearly gave my surprise away."
Jane had the water boiling in a few minutes, then quickly made the
coffee. A cup was handed to Harriet. She drank it steaming hot.
"Oh, that tastes good!" she breathed.
"You can feel it all the way down, can't you?" questioned Tommy
solemnly.
"Yes, I can."
"Drink another one, dear," urged the guardian; "it won't keep you
awake. Perhaps, now that you feel better, you will tell us how you
came so near drowning?"
"I did nearly drown, didn't I?"
"You did, as thoroughly as one could and yet live to tell of it,"
replied Miss Elting, her voice husky.
"I had unfastened all the straps save the third one," began Harriet.
"By that time the trunk was standing on end. It was very buoyant. The
idea never occurred to me that there was any danger from the trunk. I
was too much concerned wondering if I shouldn't have to open my mouth,
for my lungs were nearly bursting. Well, I gave the last strap a jerk
and I think the buckle must have pulled off, for the end of the trunk
flew up and hit me on the head."
"But how did you get wedged under the car springs?" interrupted the
guardian. "I found you there."
"I don't know. I don't remember anything that occurred after I was hit
by the trunk until I began to realize that some one was working over
me, and that I wished to be let alone. I was so comfortable that I did
not wish to be disturbed."
"Thave me!" exclaimed Tommy.
"How long did you work over me?"
"More than an hour," replied Miss Elting.
"Then I really was just about drowned, was I not?" questioned Harriet,
her eyes growing large.
"You were."
Harriet Burrell pondered a moment, then lifted a pair of serious brown
eyes to her companions.
"I am glad I had the experience," she said, "but I am sorry I made so
much trouble. I feel all right now, and strong enough for almost
anything. When do we start for the Cove?"
"At once. I hear the boy coming. Do you think you are really ready?"
"I know I am. But I believe I will have another cup of coffee before
we start. Did we rescue all of our equipment?"
"Some of it has been lost, but that doesn't matter so long as we have
you safe and sound, yes, there is the boy. Hoo-e-e-e!" called the
guardian.
"Ye-o-o-w!" answered the boy promptly. They saw him turn into the
byway. The horse he was driving was so thin that every rib stood out
plainly. The democrat wagon was all squeaks and groans, its wheels
being so crooked that the girls thought they were going to come off.
"You must help us to get our things aboard," said Miss Elting. "Will
your wagon hold them all?"
"If it doesn't break down," was the reply.
"Well, some of us can walk."
The boy backed his rickety wagon down near where the belongings of the
Meadow-Brook Girls lay in a tumbled heap. Jane assisted him in loading
the equipment, amazing the country boy by her strength and quickness.
"You going to camp, eh?" he questioned.
"We don't know what we are going to do," replied Jane. "We're likely
to do almost anything that happens to enter our minds as well as some
things that don't enter our minds. Stow that package under the seat
forward; yes, that way. There. Do you think of anything else, Miss
Elting!"
"Nothing except the automobile. I hardly think we shall be able to
take that with us."
"Indeed, no," answered Jane with a broad grin. "We'll let Dad do that.
Who is going to ride?"
"Let's see. Harriet, of course--"
"I can walk," protested Harriet.
"No; you will ride. Margery and Tommy also may ride. Hazel, Jane and I
will walk. It will do us good, for we need exercise this morning,
though I must say that a little breakfast would not come amiss."
"You thay that ith a Democrat wagon?" questioned Tommy.
"Yes, dear. Why do you ask?" answered Miss Elting smilingly.
"I jutht wanted to know. I'll walk, thank you, Mith Elting. You thay
it ith a Democrat wagon?"
"Yes, yes. What of it?"
"I wouldn't ride in a Democrat wagon. My father would dithown me if I
did! If it wath a Republican wagon, now, it would be all right--but a
Democrat wagon--thave me!"