"Oh, what a mess! What a
mess!"
Mrs. Livingston had caused the general alarm to be sounded, guardians
being ordered to have every available lamp in the camp lighted and brought
to the scene. Jane's, however, was the commanding force. Carrying a
lantern she took the directing of the rescue into her own hands, ordering
Jasper and the girls much as her father in other days had bossed gangs of
men.
First of all the canvas of the tent was cut near to where the four girls
lay. Then at Jane's suggestion the smaller branches of the tree were
carefully cut away about them to give room for the work of assisting the
four girls from their perilous position. By this time Jane and Harriet
were exchanging humorous little remarks, keeping up a running fire of
comment and trying to make light of their dangerous predicament. Cora and
Tommy were trembling so that when they did speak, their words were
scarcely intelligible to the girl who was coming to their rescue.
Patricia, however, was silent.
"That's enough, Jasper," commanded Jane at last. "Now hold the lantern."
All at once there was an ominous creaking and snapping directly above
where they lay.
"I'm being crushed!" screamed Cora.
Harriet had heard the sound. She knew the meaning of it, too. Some part of
the tree was settling over the cots as the result of Jasper's efforts to
reach the imprisoned girls.
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