But it 's no use to ask such a crosspatch to take me . '' `` Do n't say that . You were very naughty , and it is hard to forgive the loss of her precious little book , but I think she might do it now , and I guess she will , if you try her at the right minute , '' said Meg . `` Go after them . Do n't say anything till Jo has got good-natured with Laurie , than take a quiet minute and just kiss her , or do some kind thing , and I 'm sure she 'll be friends again with all her heart . '' `` I 'll try , '' said Amy , for the advice suited her , and after a flurry to get ready , she ran after the friends , who were just disappearing over the hill . It was not far to the river , but both were ready before Amy reached them . Jo saw her coming , and turned her back . Laurie did not see , for he was carefully skating along the shore , sounding the ice , for a warm spell had preceded the cold snap . `` I 'll go on to the first bend , and see if it 's all right before we begin to race , '' Amy heard him say , as he shot away , looking like a young Russian in his fur-trimmed coat and cap . Jo heard Amy panting after her run , stamping her feet and blowing on her fingers as she tried to put her skates on , but Jo never turned and went slowly zigzagging down the river , taking a bitter , unhappy sort of satisfaction in her sister 's troubles . She had cherished her anger till it grew strong and took possession of her , as evil thoughts and feelings always do unless cast out at once . As Laurie turned the bend , he shouted back ... `` Keep near the shore . It is n't safe in the middle . '' Jo heard , but Amy was struggling to her feet and did not catch a word . Jo glanced over her shoulder , and the little demon she was harboring said in her ear ... `` No matter whether she heard or not , let her take care of herself . '' Laurie had vanished round the bend , Jo was just at the turn , and Amy , far behind , striking out toward the smoother ice in the middle of the river . For a minute Jo stood still with a strange feeling in her heart , then she resolved to go on , but something held and turned her round , just in time to see Amy throw up her hands and go down , with a sudden crash of rotten ice , the splash of water , and a cry that made Jo 's heart stand still with fear . She tried to call Laurie , but her voice was gone . She tried to rush forward , but her feet seemed to have no strength in them , and for a second , she could only stand motionless , staring with a terror-stricken face at the little blue hood above the black water .
Something rushed swiftly by her , and XXXXX 's voice cried out ... `` Bring a rail .
Amy Jo Laurie Meg crash crosspatch first minute right second