tly.

"How did he know, then?" said Chris, growing angry. "I never said a
word to any one else."

"What do you mean, Chris?" said the doctor sternly.

"Why, I invented that plan, father," cried Chris, "exactly as Griggs
says; and I was going to propose it, only Griggs spoke first."

"I never knew you thought the same way, squire," said Griggs quietly.

"It was my invention," said Chris warmly.

"Very well, lad, you may have it," said Griggs. "It's yours, then."

"Yes," cried Chris, "and I'll go and throw the hook till I catch the
chain."

"Nay! That's where I come in, my lad," cried Griggs. "You shall have
all the credit, but I'll do the work."

"No, no," said Chris angrily. "It's my invention, and I shall do it."

"No," said the doctor firmly; "you both had the same idea, my boy, but
Mr Griggs is your senior, he is better adapted for the dangerous task,
and you must give way."

"Must I, father?" said the boy, in a disappointed tone.

"Yes. You have run risks enough for one day."

"Ha, ha!" cried Ned, laughing, to the astonishment of all, and his
satisfaction rang out in his tones. "You can't do it, after all,
Griggs," and though he said no more his eyes looked a finish to the
sentence--serve you right for getting the better of Chris!

"Why can't I do it?" said Griggs quietly.

"Because there's no fire to heat the iron."

"But I can soon make one."

"What of? Stones?"

Griggs brought his right fist down into his left hand with a loud
_spang_, uttering a low hiss the while, for there was not a scrap of
wood in sight.

Then his face lit up and he went to the mule laden with the tent, cast
loose a rope, and ran an iron ringed peg about two feet long off from
where it had been placed for safety, and walked off amongst the rocks
till he found a crevice suited to his purpose. There he thrust the thin
end of the peg in between the sides some six inches, and exerting his
strength a little, bent the iron round till the lower part stood off at
right angles to the upper. This done, he raised the iron, placed the
point upon the surface of a level block, and pressed heavily down, the
point yielding slowly, and, the iron being fairly soft, he very shortly
produced a roughly-made hook.

"'Taint so neat as I could wish," he said quietly; "but it is a hook,
and you can't call it anything else."

"Yes," said Chris frankly, "and it's a better one than I expected; but
wouldn't it be better to try if you