d out to be the case there'd be small
chance for me to get the pictures of game I'm hoping to strike."

"He sees us now," remarked Jerry, "but is coming along faster than
ever. Perhaps he's running away from something, for he looked back
just then over his shoulder."

"Yes, and came near taking a nasty fall in the bargain," commented
Will, who had started with sudden fear; "it strikes me he's a pretty
careless sort of fellow. On a dangerous road like this it pays to
watch your step, as a fall might mean a broken leg, or even worse. Oh!
look there, boys, he's stumbled again, and gone over the edge of the
precipice!"

All of them stared in awe, for what Will called out was only too true.
The advancing figure was no longer in sight, for upon making that
false step he had fallen to his knees, made a violent effort to keep
from slipping over the edge, and then disappeared.

CHAPTER II

A COOL CUSTOMER

"Come on everybody!" shouted Jerry, starting to run up the grade in
his customary impetuous way.

The other three were close at his heels. All were inspired by an eager
desire to find out whether the stranger had actually fallen all the
way down the face of that steep declivity, or had managed to catch
hold of some friendly projection.

If the chums had felt tired before that thrilling moment they quite
forgot the circumstance in their wild anxiety to learn what had
happened to the strange boy. Fortunately the spot where they had last
seen the other vanish was not far away, and they soon came to the
place.

Jerry was already flat on his stomach and peering over the edge when
the other boys arrived. Even before they could see for themselves his
shout announced that he had made an important discovery.

"He's hanging to a point of rock down there, as sure as anything,
Frank! Oh! how are we going to get to him before his arms give way?
See how he's throwing his feet up, trying to ease the strain, but
there's nothing doing. Shall I go down there after him, Frank?"

"Don't you think of it, Jerry!" cried the alarmed Will; "let Frank
make up a plan. You'd only tumble yourself, don't you know?"

Frank Langdon had an exceedingly active mind. He seemed to be able to
grasp a situation instantly, and to decide quickly the best thing to
do in an emergency.

Even while running to the spot he had used his eyes to advantage.

"Wait for me!" was what he snapped as he flung himself around.

Bluff, twisting his head ba