<h2 id="c7">CHAPTER VII <br/><span class="small">AT SUNSET LAKE</span></h2>
<p>The day following proved to be one of those
exceptionally warm days that occasionally come at
the end of June, with the express purpose, it
would seem, of making life unbearable for those
engaged in finishing up a term at school. All the
morning the Glenwood pupils lived on the
thoughts of the promised swim, to come that afternoon.
When dismissal hour did finally drag
around little attention was paid to luncheon, all
minds and hearts being set on the jaunt to Sunset
Lake. This was a summer resort not far from
the school, and there was a good sandy stretch for
bathing. The season had hardly opened yet, and
Mrs. Pangborn was thus able to hire for that
afternoon the exclusive right of the sandy shore
for her pupils.</p>
<p>Dorothy and Tavia were to go, although
neither expected to take the lake bath, for Dorothy
was firm in her resolve to stay with Tavia,
and so forego one of her favorite pastimes, for
Dorothy Dale was counted an excellent swimmer.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_64">[64]</div>
<p>In high glee the party started off, under the
chaperonage of Miss Higley, and even those pupils
who insisted that she was “a bear” were
forced to admit that, on this occasion, she was “as
meek as a lamb.” The fact was that Miss Higley
loved swimming, and knew she was expert at
the exercise. So the promised sport was especially
welcome to her.</p>
<p>Along the shady road to the lake Dorothy
laughed and chatted as merrily as did the others,
but Tavia was inclined to pout. She had begged
to be allowed to go into the water, declaring that
she was entirely recovered and that the swim
would do her good. But Mrs. Pangborn would
not consent, so Tavia was to take what enjoyment
she could derive from watching the others.</p>
<p>When the Glenwood girls reached Sunset Beach
the entrance gate to the bathing grounds was
locked against all outsiders. A row of bathing
houses was placed at the disposal of the young
ladies, and there was a matron in attendance. In
fact, the pleasure grounds were turned over entirely
to Mrs. Pangborn’s pupils and the presence
of the white-aproned attendant gave the place a
look of the utmost propriety. On this occasion,
likewise, the life guard was banished, and, as Dick
expressed it, “there never was a man in sight
when the girls in brown took their annual.”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_65">[65]</div>
<p>While the others were “making themselves
frog-like” in the aforementioned suits, Dorothy
and Tavia established themselves in an old boat
on the shore of the lake.</p>
<p>It was their first visit to the resort as it was
their first summer term at Glenwood, and the
two girls were charmed with the pretty, picturesque
surroundings.</p>
<p>“Not much like our pond in Dalton,” Tavia
observed, viewing the placid lake with its great
open expanse of sunlit waters.</p>
<p>“No, but that was a splendid little pond for
swimming,” Dorothy reminded her companion,
never relishing any aspersions thrown in the direction
of “dear old Dalton.”</p>
<p>Soon some of the girls appeared on the little
boardwalk bordering the lake, and, in unheard of
politeness, waited for Miss Higley to come out
and take the first plunge. That formality being
over there was a wild rush for the water, each one
of the girls expecting to have a better time than
any of the others.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_66">[66]</div>
<p>Nita Brandt and Adele Thomas had not yet
learned to swim, so these two were provided with
a pair of water-wings to support them, and they
“floundered around like a couple of ferry boats,”
Tavia declared, as they made all sorts of vain attempts
to strike out like the others.</p>
<p>Dick and Cologne were soon engaged in a race,
from one float to the other, doing the overhand
stroke, and making a fine showing for the first of
the season efforts.</p>
<p>“You’re exceeding the speed limit!” shouted
Tavia from the boat, as she stood up in the stern
and viewed the race with unconcealed interest.</p>
<p>“Get out of the way!” called a dozen voices
as the twain with their water-wings anchored
directly in Dick’s course.</p>
<p>But the girls floating on the wings could not get
upon their feet for they were in water about up
to their heads. Every effort they made to touch
bottom seemed to send their faces down, while
simultaneously two pair of stockings would shoot
up above the surface of the lake.</p>
<p>Miss Higley instantly realized that Nita and
Adele were out too far—that they were beyond
their depth and therefore in danger should the
wings (which were muslin bags blown up) burst
or slip from under their arms. She did not wait
to see the result of the race, but struck out for the
now thoroughly frightened girls, who were calling
in vain for some one to help them to shore.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_67">[67]</div>
<p>As Miss Higley reached them, Dick and Cologne,
who had not grasped the situation, came
gliding up to the same spot, almost side by side,
working earnestly, each to outdistance the other in
reaching the float which was the goal.</p>
<p>“Here!” shouted Miss Higley to them.
“Stop! Never mind the race! Help get these
two girls in. They’re exhausted!”</p>
<p>The two swimmers veered around to Nita and
Adele. Yes, Nita was gasping! She had evidently
swallowed considerable water. And Adele
could not attempt another stroke—her limbs
seemed paralyzed.</p>
<p>Without speaking, thinking to save her breath
for the struggle, Cologne took a position between
the badly frightened girls, while Miss Higley and
Dick swung around so that each could grasp an
arm, one of Nita and the other of Adele. In this
manner the three swimmers towed to shore those
who had ventured too far on the water-wings.</p>
<p>For a few minutes there was plenty of excitement
at Sunset Beach, everyone gathering around
the rescued ones, suggesting both restoratives and
punishments to close the incident.</p>
<p>Miss Higley quietly waited for the girls to recover
their breaths and other faculties that had
been temporarily suspended during the mishap,
and then asked why they had ventured out so far.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_68">[68]</div>
<p>“We didn’t,” gulped Nita. “We just stayed
perfectly still and we kept going along.”</p>
<p>“Well,” finished Miss Higley, “you must not
again get on those wings without some one at hand
to help you, or until you can manage them better.
I’m thankful nothing worse happened.”</p>
<p>So Nita and Adele, much chagrined and more
disappointed, were obliged to spend the remainder
of their swimming time with Dorothy and Tavia
on the beach, as wading did not suit them after
their attempt at swimming, unsuccessful as it had
proven.</p>
<p>As the afternoon waned the interest in the water
exercise grew keener, and those who could trust
themselves were indulging in all sorts of “stunts,”
sliding down an inclined wooden chute, and diving
from a spring board. Miss Higley posted herself
near the danger line, realizing that she must act
as guard and look out for the safety of the swimmers.</p>
<p>Presently some one suggested an endurance trial,
and this attracted almost all the girls away from
the chute over toward the stretch of deep water.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_69">[69]</div>
<p>But Edna Black did not join the racers. She
had never before tried “shooting the chutes” and
was infatuated with the sport. Time after time
she climbed the little ladder and as quickly slid
down the curved, inclined plank into the water
again. Dorothy and Tavia were watching her
from the shore, calling to her in merry nonsense
and joking about her sliding propensities.</p>
<p>“Going down!” called Tavia as Edna took one
more slide.</p>
<p>They waited—but she did not come up!</p>
<p>Miss Higley, too, was watching for the young
diver’s re-appearance.</p>
<p>Ten—twenty—she counted, but Edna did
not come up. Then, from the very top of the
slide, where she had taken her position some time
before to better watch all the girls, Miss Higley
dove into the water after Edna, cleaving the fifteen
feet of distance from the surface like a flash.</p>
<p>Dorothy and Tavia stood breathless—watching
for either Miss Higley or Edna to come to
the top.</p>
<p>It seemed ages—yes, it was too long to stay
under water. What had happened to Miss Higley?
Where was Edna?</p>
<p>An instant later, Dorothy and Tavia—without
exchanging a word—kicked off their slippers and
were in the water! There was no time to call to
the girls farther out. Not a swimmer was near
enough to offer help!</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_70">[70]</div>
<p>Their light summer clothing seemed to make
little difference to these two country girls, who had
learned to swim in Dalton pond, and, in a few
seconds, both had reached the spot where Edna
and the teacher had disappeared.</p>
<p>Tavia was the first to dive, and, in a few seconds
she came up with Edna, white and unconscious,
in her arms.</p>
<p>“Hold her—while I try—for Miss Higley!”
cried Dorothy, as Tavia, supporting her
burden on one arm and grasped the cross bar of
the chute with her other and yelled for help.</p>
<p>Dorothy was now under water, groping for the
other lost one. But she had to come up for air
without bringing Miss Higley.</p>
<p>Down she went again, taking a long breath and
determining to remain under until she could get a
grip on the clothing of the teacher. Now the
others were close at hand to assist Tavia in caring
for Edna. Down and down Dorothy went, the
water gurgling in her ears—down and down into
the depths.</p>
<p>It seemed as if she could not stand the strain
and pressure. A trail of bubbles and a swirl of
the surface of the lake marked where she had disappeared.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_71">[71]</div>
<p>Rose-Mary and Dick were the first to reach
Tavia, and they at once took charge of the unconscious
one, floating her to shore between them.
Then others came up to the chute, white, frightened
and trembling at the news Tavia gasped out to
them. So alarmed were they that none of them
dared venture to help Dorothy down there in the
blackness and silence, at her grewsome task.</p>
<p>Tavia, as soon as she had recovered her breath,
had started off to assist Dick and Rose-Mary in
bringing Edna to shore, as the task was no light
one for the three swimmers. Then, as she got into
shallow water Tavia turned, suddenly remembering
something, and shouted to the girls about
the chute:</p>
<p>“Go for Dorothy! She is under there, looking
for Miss Higley!”</p>
<p>But, as one or two of the braver girls, feeling
the need of action, prepared to dive, they saw the
pale face of Dorothy Dale come to the surface,
and they saw that, in her arms, she held clasped
the form of Miss Higley. But the hand that
Dorothy stretched out to grasp the bottom of the
chute, that she might support herself and the inert
burden, just failed to catch hold of the wooden
brace, and, amid a swirl of waters Dorothy went
down again, out of sight, with the unconscious
teacher.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_72">[72]</div>
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