CHAPTER XXI
ON THE ICE
If Ruth Fielding's eyes were a bit red when the wagonette finally cameto the landing, nobody would have suspected her of crying. Least ofall Tom Cameron, for she jumped down with a glad cry when she saw him,and dropped her skates and shook both his hands in a most cordialgreeting.
"Helen hinted that you might be here, Tom, but I could hardly believeit," she said.
"We want to hurry and catch up with them," he said. Some of the girlswere already on the ice. "We'd better go."
But the other girls had alighted, and following them came MissReynolds. Now, Ruth liked Miss Reynolds very much, but the teachercame towards them, looking rather grave.
"This is Helen Cameron's brother Tom, Miss Reynolds," said Ruth. "Heattends the Seven Oaks Military Academy."
"I see," said the teacher, quietly. "And where is Miss Cameron?"
"She has gone on with Bob Steele and his sister," explained Tom, seeinginstantly that all was not right. "You see, some of us fellows gotpermission to come over here to Triton Lake to-day. Mr. Hargreaves,one of our tutors, is with us."
"I know Mr. Hargreaves," said Miss Reynolds. "But I had nowarning--nor had Mrs. Tellingham, I believe--that any of the younggentlemen from Major Parradel's school were to be here."
"Well, it will make it all the nicer, I am sure," Tom suggested, withhis winning smile. "We'll all--all us fellows, I mean--try to behaveour prettiest, Miss Reynolds."
"Undoubtedly you will be on your good behavior," said the teacher,drily.
But Tom and Ruth could not hurry on ahead now. Miss Reynolds walkedsedately with them down to the landing. By that time Mary Cox and mostof the Upedes were on the ice--and they were joined by all the boys butTom. The Fox had laid her plans well.
Mr. Hargreaves skated back to shake hands with Miss Reynolds. "This isa surprise," he said. "I am sure I did not expect to find you and youryoung ladies here, Miss Reynolds."
"Are you sure that the meeting is _quite_ unexpected by both parties?"she returned, with a grave smile. "If we are surprised, Mr.Hargreaves, I fancy that our young charges may have been rather betterinformed in advance than we were."
The gentleman shrugged his shoulders. "I give that up!" he said. "Itmay be. I see you have your hands full here. Shall I take my--er--myremaining young man away with me?" he asked, looking aside at Tom, whowas already fastening Ruth's skates.
"Oh, no," said Miss Reynolds, grimly. "I'll make use of him!"
And she most certainly did. Tom was anxious to get Ruth away at onceso that they could catch up with the foremost skaters; but he could notrefuse to aid her teacher. And then there were others of the girls tohelp. They were all on the ice before Master Tom could get his ownskates on.
Then there was a basket to carry, and of course Tom could not see theteacher or one of the girls carry it. He took it manfully. Then MissReynolds gave Ruth her hand and skated with her, and Master Tom wasfain to skate upon Ruth's other hand. And so they went on slowly,while the lively crowd ahead drew farther and farther away. It was notan unpleasant journey out across the smooth lake, however, and perhapsthe party who had but one boy for escort had just as pleasant a time inmany respects as those in advance.
Ruth made her friend acquainted with all the Sweetbriars who werepresent and whispered to him how he had really named the new Briarwoodsociety. That vastly tickled Tom and he made himself just as agreeableto the girls as he knew how. Miss Reynolds was no wet blanket on thefun, either, and she was as good a skater as Tom himself. Ruth hadimproved greatly, and before they reached the frost-bound _Minnetonka_the teacher relieved Tom of his basket and told him to give the girlfrom the Red Mill a lesson in skating with a partner--practice whichshe sorely needed.
It was spirited indeed to fly over the ice, guided by Tom's sure footand hand. They described a great curve and came back to Miss Reynoldsand the other girls, who progressed more sedately. Then Tom gave hishands to two of the older girls and with their arms stretched at fulllength the trio went careening over the ice on the "long roll" in a waythat made Ruth, looking on with shining eyes, fairly hold her breath.
"It's wonderful!" she cried, when the three came back, glowing with theexercise. "Do you suppose I can ever learn that, Tom?"
"Why, Ruthie, you're so sure of yourself on the skates that I believe Icould teach you to roll very easily. If Miss Reynolds will allow me?"
"Go on, Master Tom," the teacher said, laughing. "But don't go too faraway. We are nearing the boat now."
The first party that had struck out from the shore had all arrived atthe ice-bound _Minnetonka_ now, and many of them were skating incouples thereabout. At the stern of the steamboat was an open place inthe ice, for Ruth and Tom could see the water sparkling. There waslittle wind, but it was keen; the sun was quite warm and the exercisekept the skaters from feeling the cold.
"Hullo!" exclaimed Tom to Ruth, as they began to get into goodstroke--for the girl was an apt pupil--"who is that old Bobbins has gotunder his wing?"
"Who is Bobbins?" asked Ruth, with a laugh.
"My bunkie--that's what we call our chums at Seven Oaks. Bob Steele."
"Madge Steele's brother?"
"Yes. And no end of a good fellow," declared Tom. "But, my aunt!don't his sister rig him, though? Asked old Bobbins if he had thecroup?" and Tom went off into a burst of laughter.
"Do you mean the tall, light-haired boy?" Ruth queried.
"Yes. They're skating back toward the steamboat now--see, towards thestern."
"That is Mary Cox with your friend," said Ruth, a little gravely.
"Hullo!" ejaculated Tom, again.
He started ahead at full clip, bearing Ruth on with him. Something hadhappened to the couple Tom and Ruth had noticed. They swerved to oneside and suddenly Bob Steele went down.
"His skate's broke!" erred Tom. "Hope old Bobbins isn't hurt. GreatScott! the girl's with him!"
Mary Cox had indeed fallen. For a moment the two figures, flung by themomentum of their pace, slid over the ice. There came a wild shoutfrom those nearer the boat--then a splash!
"They're in the water!" cried Ruth, in horror.
She retarded Tom very little, but dashed forward, keeping in strokewith him. She heard Tom whisper:
"Poor old Bobbins! he'll be drowned!"
"No, no, Tom! We can get to them," gasped Ruth.
Indeed, she and her escort were the nearest to the open place in thelake into which Bob Steele and Mary Cox had fallen. If anybody insight could help the victims of the accident Tom and Ruth could!