The ruined fortress, their destination, was now exactly above their
heads. The last ascent boldly skirted the shoulder of the mountain, and
then doubled upward in a series of serpentine coils. Below them the whole
of Lake Garda was spread like a map. Mr. Wilder and the Englishman,
having paused at the edge of the declivity, were endeavoring to trace the
boundary line of Austria, and they called upon the officers for help. The
two relinquished their post at Constance's side, while the donkeys kept
on past them up the hill. The winding path was both stony and steep,
and, from a donkey's standpoint, thoroughly objectionable. Fidilini was
well in the lead, trotting sedately, when suddenly without the slightest
warning, he chose to revolt. Whether Constance pulled the wrong rein, or
whether, as she affirmed, it was merely his natural badness, in any case,
he suddenly veered from the path and took a cross cut down the rocky
slope below them. Donkeys are fortunately sure-footed beasts; otherwise
the two would have plunged together down the sheer face of the mountain.
As it was it looked ghastly enough to the four men below; they shouted to
Constance to stick on, and commenced scrambling up the slope with
absolutely no hope of reaching her.

It was Tony's chance a second time to show his agility--and this time to
some purpose. He was a dozen yards behind and much lower down, which gave
him a start. Leaping forward, he dropped over the precipice, a fall of
ten feet, to a narrow ledge below. Running toward them at an angle, he
succeeded in cutting off their flight. Before the frightened donkey could
swerve, Tony had seized him--by the tail--and had braced himself against
a boulder. It was not a dignified rescue, but at least it was effective;
Fidilini came to a halt. Constance, not expecting the sudden jolt,
toppled over sidewise, and Tony, being equally unprepared to receive her,
the two went down together rolling over and over on the grassy slope.

"My dear, are you hurt?"

Mr. Wilder, quite pale with anxiety, came scrambling to her side.
Constance sat up and laughed hysterically, while she examined a bleeding
elbow.

"N--no, not dangerously--but I think perhaps Tony is."

Tony however was at least able to run, as he was again on his feet and
after the donkey. Captain Coroloni and her father helped Constance to her
feet while Lieutenant di Ferara recovered a side-comb and the white sun
hat. They all climbed down together