The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea | Page 7

growing stiff,
too, which condition was not improved by the chill of the night air.
Most active of all the party was little Tommy Thompson, who skipped
along, talking incessantly. Margery was scarcely able to keep up with
the party. Twice she leaned against a tree, closing her eyes, only to fall
to the ground in a heap. Harriet, though nearly as tired and footsore as
her companions, summoned all her will power and trudged bravely
along.
Had the Meadow-Brook Girls not been so well seasoned to hardship,
serious results might have followed their unexpected bath in the chill
waters, followed by their exposure to the searching night wind. But
they were healthy, outdoor girls, as all our readers know. The first
volume of this series, "THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER
CANVAS," told the story of their first vacation spent in the open, when,
as members of Camp Wau-Wau in the Pocono Woods, they served
their novitiate as Camp Girls, winning many honors and becoming
firmly wedded to life in the woods.
When that camping period came to an end Harriet and her companions,
as related in "THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS
COUNTRY," set out on the long walk home, meeting with plenty of
adventures and many laughable happenings. It was during this hike that
they became acquainted with the Tramp Club Boys and entered into a
walking contest against them, which the Meadow-Brook Girls won.
Our readers next met the girls in "THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS
AFLOAT," a volume which contained the account of their houseboat
life on Lake Winnepesaukee. It was there that they again outwitted the

Tramp Club, who took their defeat good-naturedly and by way of
retaliation aided the girls in running down a mysterious enemy whose
malicious mischief had caused them repeated annoyance.
Then, as their summer was not yet ended, the Meadow-Brook Girls
accepted an invitation from Jane McCarthy to accompany her on a trip
through the White Mountains, all of which is fully set forth in "THE
MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS."
It was there that they met with a series of mishaps which they laid at
the door of an ill-favored man who had vainly tried to become their
guide. The disappearance of Janus Grubb, the guide who had been
engaged by Miss Elting during their mountain hike, and the surprising
events that followed made the story of their mountain trip well worth
reading.
And now, once more, we find the Meadow-Brook Girls ready to take
the trail again wherever that trail might lead. At the present moment,
however, it did not look as though Harriet Burrell and her friends
would reach their destination in the immediate future unless it were
nearer at hand than they thought.
Not once during the night did the moon show her face, though about
two o'clock in the morning the clouds thinned, the landscape showing
with more distinctness. The girls, when they walked down to the shore,
saw a sheet of water covering several acres. Leading down to the water
was a pier that extended far out into the little lake or pond, whatever it
might be. Harriet, Jane and Miss Elting walked out to the far end of the
pier.
Harriet pointed to the end of the pier as she stood above it. "It has
broken down," she said.
"No; I think not," answered the guardian. "I think, too, that I understand
what this is. It is an ice pier. Ice is harvested from this pond and carried
up over that sloping platform and so on to the shore or to conveyances
waiting here. But how narrow it is. How ever did you manage to keep
on the pier until you reached the end, Jane, dear?"

"I really don't know, Miss Elting," replied Jane, evidently impressed
with the feat she had accomplished. She leaned over and peered into the
water to see if she could find her car. It was not to be seen. Dark
objects, floating here and there about the surface, showed the girls
where part of their equipment had gone. Harriet was regarding the dark
objects with inquiring eyes.
"I wish we had a boat," said Miss Elting. "We could gather up our stuff.
We can't afford to lose it."
"We don't need a boat. Jane and I will get it out. What do you say,
Jane?" answered Harriet.
"I don't know what you have in mind, darlin', but I'm with you,
whatever it is."
"You and I will go in after the things."
"You don't mean it!" exclaimed Jane. "And in this cold water. Br-rr-r!"
"No; you must not do that," objected the guardian. "At least not now."
"What is it you folks are planning?" questioned Hazel, who, with
Tommy and Buster, had joined the party at the end of the pier. Jane
explained what Harriet