Ethel Hollister's Second Summer as a Campfire GirlBenson, Irene Elliott
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Ethel Hollister's Second Summer as a Campfire Girl
Benson, Irene Elliott
Camp Fire Girls -- Juvenile fiction
She was ready to drop when she reached Camp. Ethel was no light weight.
While in Camp she had gained, and now she weighed nearly a hundred and
thirty-seven pounds. As Nora neared home she saw parties of men about to
start on searching tours. They had sent word by Mr. Adams to Harvey, and
there he and his patrol stood ready to start. Uncle John with the second
party were there as well. In some way the horse had escaped from the two
men and had returned to Camp, but without Ethel. Then they knew that she
had been thrown. And as for Nora, something dreadful must have happened
to her, for Nora was so strong and self-reliant.
A shout rent the air when they beheld Nora Casey drenched to the skin,
hatless, coatless, with nearly all of her skirt missing, and carrying on
her back a hysterical, shrieking girl, while with no apparent effort
she walked steadily towards them. Harvery Bigelow's admiration for one so
strong and courageous showed itself on every line of his face.
Uncle John took Ethel from Nora and laid her on the Camp bed that had
been brought from the tent.
"By Jove!" ejaculated Harvey as he examined Ethel's ankle and pronounced
it a compound fracture, "you're all right, Miss Casey, first to staunch
the blood and bandage her arm, and second to bind her ankle in such a
surgeon-like manner, say nothing of carrying her on your back for over a
mile and a half and holding her leg so that you saved her pain. I take
off my hat to you, Miss Casey. You have the nerve and strength of a man."
"I don't see," said Uncle John, "how in the name of heaven you managed to
raise her, wounded as she was, upon your back--let alone bringing her
through the pouring rain a dark night like this. Why! it's been a regular
thunder shower. I'm glad that her mother knows nothing of it."
Nora sighed. She was very tired. Miss Kate came forward and put her arm
around her.
"My dear, you are an honor to the Camp Fires. We owe a vote of thanks to
this brave girl," and taking Nora's face between her hands she kissed her
affectionately.
"I've done nothing wonderful," replied Nora simply, taking her sweater
from Patty Sands. "Luckily I heard her moan and found her. I couldn't go
away and leave her helpless and alone in a blinding storm, and two men
waiting to seize her." Then she told Ethel's story of the conversation
that she had overheard.
"Nor could we stay in the woods over night alone."
A buckboard appeared and Mrs. Hollister jumped out. She had heard of the
accident through Mr. Adams and had made him bring her up.
After seeing Ethel for a few moments she rushed out and threw her arms
about Nora.
"You are a dear brave girl," she sobbed, kissing her. "You have saved
Ethel's life. Never while I live shall I forget it."
"Nor I," broke in Uncle John, grasping the hands of the girl. "Miss Nora,
you're a fine young woman and you're father has cause to be proud of his
daughter."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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