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 short, turned about and exclaimed "Say!" in such an unexpected and explosive burst of sound that Polly, thrown from her balance by her attempt to avoid collision with Laurie, and startled out of her wits, fell back against Ned. Only Bob's prompt support from the rear saved the situation. The three glared at the offender in outrage.

"Say," exclaimed Ned, "what do you want to do? Break all our necks? What's the matter with you, anyway, stopping like that and shouting like a crazy man?"

Laurie stared back for an instant as though he neither saw Ned nor heard him. Then his gaze fell and he turned away. "Sorry," he muttered.

"But—but what was it?" gasped Polly. "Did you see a snake or—or something?"

Laurie shook his head and began to climb again. "I just thought of something," he said.

"Well, for the love of lime-drops!" scolded his brother. "Don't think any more until we get to the top, you poor prune!"

They went on, but it wasn't difficult to perceive that Laurie wasn't obeying Ned's injunction. If he had been he wouldn't have stumbled over everything in his course and he wouldn't have