y.'

'I'd be up after him this minute if the bough'd bear me,' said the
innkeeper doubtfully.

Angel answered none of them. She stood still with her white face
raised to the little figure in his dangerous position over her head.

He was frightened enough himself now, clinging tightly to the cracking
bough and looking fearfully down at the ground beneath him.

'Don't look down, Godfrey,' called Angel encouragingly; 'sit quite
still, and we will help you directly.'

At the same moment Peter Rogers came suddenly pushing through the group
with a rope in his hand, He said not a word but went up the tree like a
squirrel.

''Taint no good, Pete,' the miller began, 'the bough won't bear you.'
Angel clutched his coat.

'Be quiet,' she said almost sharply; 'we can't do anything; be quiet.'

Every one obeyed her, and held their breath as Pete climbed to the
higher boughs above Godfrey, which, though slender for his weight,
looked safer than the dead ones. He fastened the rope where it seemed
secure and dropped the end down to the little boy.

'Tie it tight round your waist, young master,' he said; 'tie it in two
or three knots.'

Those below would have given directions too, but Angel stopped them
again.

'Hush! let Pete tell him; don't confuse him.'

There was dead silence again, while Godfrey, looking up at Peter,
struggled with his little fingers over the stiff rope. The maids came
out while he was doing it, and, at their master's sign, put down the
mattresses silently under the tree.

'Now come back, sir,' said Peter from above. 'Mind, you can't fall,
the rope's tight, and I'll have you in a minute. Don't look down, and
come along gently.'

His quiet voice seemed to give Godfrey confidence and he obeyed,
pushing himself along the bough. Betty hid her face against Angel, and
squeezed her sister's fingers till they were hot and sore. The miller
puffed with excitement and began to say something, when the innkeeper
clapped his big hand over his mouth. It did not really last a minute,
but it seemed an hour before Peter, standing firm in a fork of the
tree, could reach the child and drag him towards him, even as the
branch on which Godfrey had been sitting crashed down on to the
mattress at Angelica's feet. Another minute, and Peter was helping the
little boy down the tree, amid a chorus of congratulation from below.
Every one had something to say, some comment to make, except Angel, who
just took tight ho