h he meant to hint that if the imperiled boy had
lost his hold, and fallen, it would be partly because they had been so
slow in getting there.

"Perhaps we may," replied Thad, as Toby crawled to the edge to peer
over; "but it wouldn't surprise me if we found that the face of the
precipice backed in, and that would keep us from sighting the ledge,
or any one on it."

"Looky! there's Toby beckonin' to us. Come on, fellers!" and the eager
Giraffe started to move toward the edge of the descent.

Knowing that Giraffe was inclined to be reckless in his haste, Thad
kept close beside him, and whispered words of warning.

"Slow now, Giraffe," he said; "be careful, because we wouldn't like to
have you take a plunge down there. You'd never know what hurt you, if
you did."

Thus warned the other did slow up a little; but quickly they all reached
a position where they could stretch their necks, and look over.

The moonlight fell on the face of the precipice. They could even see
away down near the base, where the sharp rocks that had fallen during
countless years in the past were piled up in ugly masses. Just as
Thad had remarked, if any one did have the hard luck to fall over, he
would never know what hurt him.

"It does slant in below, Thad!" said Giraffe, the first thing.

"Yes, and we've got to call out to learn whether he's there or not,"
returned the scoutmaster; then raising his voice a little he said:

"Hello! Aleck, are you here?"

Immediately they heard an exclamation of delight, and then came a reply:

"Yes, yes, and right underneath you too, I think. Have you got a rope
along with you?"

"Just what we have; and I hope it's going to be long enough," replied
Thad.

"Then quick, tie a stone to the end, and lower away. When you have got
it down opposite to me, give a swing in and out. I can take hold easy
enough, if you do that," came from below, in the eager tones of one in
whose heart new hope had taken lodgment.

Thad lost no time in fastening on a piece of stone, after which he
started to lower away, all the while listening, hoping to hear a cry
that the stone had gone down far enough. As he was getting perilously
near the end of the rope, his heart had begun to misgive him, when
suddenly came a hail:

"Hold on! that is far enough! Now, keep a tight grip up there!"

"Get hold with me, the rest of you," said Thad, allowing the guide to
be first; for he wished to take as much advantage of Toby's great
s