thing that could not be attempted with safety. Bet
regretted that effort. Her body slipped, a plant gave way and her feet
slid over the wall.

Bet's mind was clear. She heard once more Joy's faint cry in the
distance and knew that it depended on her to rescue her friend. The
empty hand clutched and found another tough root, and slowly, now, she
brought first one foot then the other to the ledge. She was saved!
But would she reach Joy in time?

With greater caution she crept the few feet along that treacherous path
until she came close above Joy's head.

"Hold on, Joy, don't give up! I'll help you in a minute." Bet
encouraged her.

Working desperately, Bet got to her feet and clung there. It was the
only hope for Joy. The rain had ceased to pour down in such a torrent,
and Bet could now see her friend clinging to that slender plant.
Leaning over as far as she dared, she dropped the loop over Joy's head
and shoulders.

"Joy dear," she called. "Put one arm inside the loop, quick!"

Joy heard and understood. She let go with one hand. There was a
shriek, a groan, a shower of rocks descended as Joy slipped down that
steep wall.

For Bet, everything went black. She grew faint and closed her eyes,
then suddenly pulled herself together, and looked over.

The rope was taut. It had held.

A second shower of rocks came from the trail, started by the sudden
jerk on the saddle. The horse pawed the ground in an effort to keep
its footing.

It held. And Bet gripped the stirrup with her foot and drew on the
rope.

It was well that Joy was tiny. Even then, Bet had difficulty in
bringing her up. She tugged, she pulled, trying to ease the girl's
body over the sharp projecting rocks.

Bet was weak and trembling when she clasped Joy in her arms, perched on
that narrow shelf of rock.

And that was the way Kit found them ten minutes later, when the storm
had passed and the sun shone fiercely down once more.

Joy was sobbing as if her heart would break and Bet was saying in a
crooning voice: "Joy dear, you can talk about the boys as much as you
want to from now on. I'll never again object to anything you do."

CHAPTER XII

_DOUBLE DEALING_

An anxious group was waiting for the girls to arrive in camp. Ma
Patten had run over to make her daily call on Mrs. Breckenridge. Even
Tang and the two Chinese hoys were watching eagerly and scowling toward
the tempestuous sky. A thunder and lightning sto