"I--I can't move."
Harriet put forth a greater effort of strength. Cora Kidder was dragged
out from under the cots gasping. Then came Tommy more dead than alive,
uttering frightened little moans. Harriet suddenly collapsed under the
weight she had been holding up, her three companions in the meantime being
on their way to safety.
Jane heard the crackling of the limbs of the tree and the snap of a brace
on a cot. Her frantic calls to Harriet were unanswered. Crazy Jane knew
that Harriet Burrell was in mortal danger.
Jasper was still holding the lantern, just outside the danger line, so
that Jane was now working in the dark. Making her way to the pile of cots
she groped helplessly about, her hands at length coming in contact with
Harriet's feet. Five seconds later Jane was bending all her energies to
the work of raising the cot from the body of her friend. It was
useless--Harriet was pinned down under the weight of the tree pressing
upon the cot.
"Jasper, where are you?" cried Jane.
"I'm holding the lantern out here."
"Bring it nearer, you wooden Indian!" cried the girl indignantly.
Jasper obeyed with alacrity, holding the lantern as close to where Jane
worked as was possible.
Jane made one more frantic effort to raise the cot, then finding it
useless she clambered back to where Jasper stood peering anxiously at the
fallen tent.
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