I struck out for all that I was worth. As I had surmised, the ice was in perfect condition as regards its surface. Sufficiently elastic to enable the blade of one"s skates to bite on to it, smooth enough to offer no impediment to their onward glide. One skimmed over it almost without conscious effort. The ecstasy of doing something; the sense of freedom which it gave; the delight of tearing through the keen, clear atmosphere; of feeling it upon one"s cheeks--ruffling one"s hair--exhilarating one"s whole being--breathing it in great gulps into one"s lungs--these were the things I needed. And I had hardly been enjoying them half a dozen seconds when the bonds which had seemed to bind me parted, proving themselves to be but the phantasmal creations of a crooked mood. And I laughed, in my turn.
"Isn"t it glorious?"
"While it lasts."
"Why the reservation? Isn"t it glorious, now?"
We had gone right across the lake. We swung round at a right angle.
"I thought it wasn"t safe!"
"What"s that?"
Just my luck! Scarcely were the words out of my lips than there was an ominous sound.
"That"s nothing. I thought everybody knew that virgin ice make eccentric noises; we"re the first to test its quality. That shows how safe it is."
"Does it? I think there may be something in your theory about the middle being best. Suppose we cross to the other side again."
The sound did go on.
"It"s because we"re skirting the sh.o.r.e. If you"ll admit that I am right for once in a way I"ll concede that you may be."
"I"ll concede anything if you"ll come away from this."
"Then I"ll race you to our starting-point!"
We had been keeping within perhaps a dozen feet of the land. Sharply turning I made for the centre. I had not taken half a dozen strides when the cracking noise increased to a distinctly uncomfortable degree. I felt the ice heaving beneath my feet. He was at my side; it was preposterous to talk about racing him level. He could have given me seventy-five yards out of a hundred.
"We have struck a bad place. Don"t stop; go as fast as you can."
"I"m going as fast as I can. I shall be all right. You go in front."
"Give me your hand!"
"No!"
"Give me your hand!"
I did not give him my hand--he s.n.a.t.c.hed it. As he did so, something went. We did not stop to see what. How he managed I did not, and do not, understand. But I know he gripped my hand as in an iron vice, started off at about seventy miles an hour, and made me keep up with him.
"Don"t!" I cried; as well as I could while I gasped for breath.
"Come!" he said.
And I had to come. And before I knew it we were standing on the sh.o.r.e, and I was half beside myself with rage.
"How dare you? Do you suppose that I"m an idiot, and that you can haul me about as if you were my keeper? What did you do it for?"
"I fancy I saved your life."
"Saved my life! Saved your own, you mean. You are an elephant, not I; and if you would only relieve the ice of the weight of your huge bulk, everything would be all right. But you are so grossly selfish that you hate the idea of anyone engaging in a pleasure which you cannot share--and better still, go home; and let me amuse myself exactly as I choose."
"Molly! you are not going on again!"
"I am going on again!--I am! And you dare to try and stop me--you dare!
I imagine that the expression of my countenance startled him. He had planted himself directly in front of me. But when he saw me looking like black murder he moved aside. In an instant I had pa.s.sed him, and was off towards the centre of the lake.
Whether the double burden which the ice had had to bear had been too severe a strain for its, as yet, still delicate const.i.tution, I cannot say. I only know that, as soon as I was clear off the sh.o.r.e, in spite of my blind fury, I realised that I really was an idiot, and one, too, who was badly in need of a keeper. It groaned and creaked, and heaved in every direction; seeming to emit an increasingly loud crack with every forward stride I took. Mr Sanford shouted.
"Molly, for G.o.d"s sake, come back!"
I recognised--too late--the reason that was on his side. But the very vigour of his appeal served as a climax. I lost my head. I did not know what to do, where to go; turning this way and that, only to find the threats of danger greater. The question was settled for me. For the second time something went; the ice disappeared from beneath my feet--and I went in.
I felt--when I felt anything--almost as much surprise as consternation. Fortunately, I did not appear to have hit on a spot where the depth was twenty feet--or anything like it. For, instead of being drowned, the water did not come up to my armpits.
"Can you feel the bottom?"
The agony of fear which was in Philip Sanford"s voice as he asked the question calmed me as if by magic.
"I think so; I seem to be standing in what feels like mud."
"Can you get your arms on to the ice and raise yourself? If you do it carefully it will probably bear you."
"I am afraid not. I seem to be too deep in to get a proper purchase."
"Where can I get a rope?
"Jennings" farm is the nearest house; and that"s the other side of the stile."
"Do you very much mind waiting there? I"ll be back inside five minutes."
My heart sank at the prospect of being left alone, even for an instant.
"I"d rather--I"d rather you did something now. I"m afraid--I"m afraid I"m sinking deeper. And it"s so cold. Can"t you do anything at all?"
"I"ll do my best."
He did his best; while I watched--how I watched! He selected a part where the ice had not as yet been subjected to any strain, and carefully advanced towards me. It bore him better than I--and perhaps he--had expected.
"It"s all right," he cried. "I shall get to you! Cheer up! And keep as still as you can!"
Then it cracked. And I feared for him. If he should have chanced on a spot where the depth was twenty feet! And should be drowned before my eyes! The cracking noise grew more instead of less.
"I fancy I shall do better by lying down and taking to my hands and knees; it will be spreading my weight over a larger surface."
He lay flat on the ice; wriggling towards me somehow, like a snake. It was a pretty slow process; especially as the icy water was wrapping my draperies about me and freezing the blood in my veins; and I was either sinking lower and lower, or else imagining that I was, which was just as bad. At last he came within three feet of me--within two--within reach. When I got my hands in his I burst out crying.