was that tree?" asked Dick.

"Right here, whar you see the holes. The snow has covered the spot
putty well, but I know the tree was here when we come up."

"It must have been that tree we heard sliding down the mountain side,"
exclaimed Dick. "Maybe Tom didn't go down into the chasm at all, but
slid down the mountain on the tree!"

"That's so!" put in Sam, eagerly. "And he may not be hurt!"

"Well, a slide like thet wouldn't be anything to sneeze at," remarked
Jack Wumble. "Especially if the tree took to rollin' over an' over!"

"I'm goin' to investigate," said Dick, and commenced to crawl out on
the edge of the cliff.

"You be careful!" roared Wumble. "It's slippery an' dangerous out
there!"

"Let us join hands," suggested Sam, and this was done, all forming a
chain, to keep Dick from going over the edge of the cliff. He took the
torch in one hand, that he might light the way in the darkness and the
flying snow.

At last Dick found himself on the very edge of the cliff at the point
where the giant tree had stood. To his surprise the cliff was not
perpendicular there, but formed a slope leading to another ridge some
fifty feet below. What was beneath this was hidden from view by the
falling snow.

"I think I can crawl down there," he said to the others. "Anyway, I am
going to try it."

"Wait! I've got a lariat in my pack," said Ike Furner. "I'll git
that. It will be better'n nuthin'." And off he sped for the article
mentioned.

When he came back Dick tied one end of the lariat around his waist, and
while the others held fast he crawled down the slope. He had to keep
on his hands and knees, and once he slipped a distance of several
yards, the others stopping him with a jerk.

"Be careful--the lariat might snap!" sang out Sam.

"It's better walking down here," answered Dick. "I think----"

He did not finish, for just then his body swung down into a hollow,
filled with snow and with some dripping water that had commenced to
freeze. There was a snap, and the end of the lariat came back in the
faces of those above.

"There he goes!" yelled Jack Wumble, and pointed down to where the
torch could be seen whirling around and around. Soon it was hidden
from view by the snow.

"Dick! Dick!" yelled Sam. "Are you safe?"

A yell came back, but what was said those above could not make out.
Sam's face went white, and he looked inquiringly at Jack Wumble.

"Where do you suppose he went to?" as