“Oh, I see a few down there,” cried Priscilla, starting toward the edge of the river bank.
“Be careful,” called Jack, as she put one foot part way down the bank to reach some clusters beyond her, rather than walk a little farther.
His warning came too late. Even as he spoke, her foot slipped on the mud; and before she could save herself, she slid all the way down the soft slope and rolled into the river.
CHAPTER XIV
TWO MISHAPS
Fortunately the tide was out; so the water was not very deep, and while Desiré stood on the bridge and watched helplessly, and Jack was looking for a place where he could go to her assistance, Priscilla managed to get out of the water.
“Don’t come down,” she called, “you’ll fall too. I’ll be up soon.”
But the mud was very slippery; and again and again she slid back, while René shouted with laughter, and clapped his hands. Even Desiré had to smile; for Priscilla did look funny, plastered with red mud, and dripping with water. Jack again started toward her, but Desiré held him back.
“There is no use in two of you getting in that state. She’s in no danger, and since she is lighter in weight than you, she stands a much better chance of climbing up that bank. Prissy,” she called, “crawl on your hands and knees.”
The little girl obeyed, and finally reached the top, where Jack stretched out a strong hand to pull her over the edge.
“What shall I do?” she wailed, holding her sticky arms out straight from her body, and half blinded by the wet, muddy hair hanging over her face.
“I wish I knew,” said Desiré. “Can you walk home, do you think?”
“I guess so. I’ll try; but—but—I lost all my berries!”
“You look like a big berry yourself, you’re so red,” gurgled René.
At least one of the party was enjoying the incident to the utmost.
It took a long time to scrape and wash the mud off poor Priscilla, and when the task was accomplished they were exhausted.
While the others were occupied, René had been playing about by himself. Just as Priscilla looked once more like herself, the little boy ran toward the group crying at the top of his voice.
“What’s happened?” demanded Jack, advancing to meet the child and picking him up.
“Bite!” he wailed, holding out his finger.
“What bit you?”
“Long, wiggly thing,” sobbed the little fellow. “Ran away so fast.”
“Snake!” said Desiré. “Oh, Jack! What shall we do?”
“Don’t be frightened,” said the boy, calmly sitting down with the little fellow on his lap, and examining the finger carefully. He found the bite, and putting it to his lips, began to suck the blood from it while Desiré helped hold René still.
“Jack, do be careful,” she begged anxiously; “be sure not to swallow any of it,” as he paused to dispose of what he had drawn from the wound. “Be quiet, Renny; brother is trying to make you well; so you mustn’t mind if he hurts you a little.”
Priscilla, with terrified eyes, stood looking on helplessly until Desiré sent her for a box of emergency supplies which she had prepared before leaving Sissiboo.
“I hardly think it was a poisonous snake,” said Jack, when he had done all he could; “but I suppose it is best to be on the safe side. I had better take him in to Kentville to a doctor.”
“Oh, yes,” breathed Desiré, in great relief; “and let him see if you’re all right too.”
They hitched up the horses and drove into the town, and while Jack and Desiré took René to the physician’s office, Priscilla took the berries they had gathered that day to her first customer, Mrs. Auberge. They had become good friends, and the little girl naturally told her of the recent accidents.
“There are no dangerous snakes right around here,” she said soothingly; “but it does no harm to have a doctor look the boy over. So you’re going on tomorrow? I’ll miss you. How would you like to stay with me for the rest of the summer and help me with the tourists? I’ll pay you.”
“I’d have to ask Jack,” replied the child slowly, after a minute’s thought. “I’ll come back and let you know.”
She met the others just coming out of the doctor’s house.
“Renny and Jack are both all right,” Desiré cried joyfully to her little sister. “Where have you been?”
“I sold the berries to Mrs. Auberge; and—and—Jack—”
“Yes?”
“She wants me to stay here and help her for the rest of the summer, and she’ll pay me.”
Desiré glanced quickly at Jack, who stood regarding Priscilla very gravely.
“Do you want to stay?” he inquired, finally.
“It would bring in some money—I’d be glad—that is—”
“That isn’t what I asked you, Prissy. I said do you want to stay.”
“Answer Jack, dear,” urged Desiré, as the child stood silent, hanging her head. “Don’t be afraid to say just what you feel.”
“She isn’t afraid,” said Jack gently. “Do you want to stay with Mrs. Auberge, dear?”
Priscilla shook her head.
“All right,” replied her brother; “that settles it.”
“I told her I’d let her know—” began the little girl.
“Very well. Run back and thank her nicely for her offer, but say that this summer we are all going to stay together. We’ll walk on slowly, and you can catch up with us.”
Before they had gone far, they heard running steps behind them; and Priscilla came abreast, catching Jack by the hand.
“See what she gave me,” holding up a box as she spoke; “a game we can all play; and any time I want to, I can stay and help her.”
“That’s very nice of her,” said Desiré. “How wonderful people are to us everywhere.”
“It’s a good thing,” remarked Jack that night, “that tomorrow we shall return to our regular occupation and way of living. I feel as if I had had enough excitement today to last for the rest of the summer.”
“Oh, of that kind, perhaps,” agreed Desiré; “but there are other kinds; and those I hope we’ll meet. Did the doctor charge much?”
“About half what we made on the berries,” smiled
