The Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies

de. Running to the edge of the cliff,

o caught the plaintive

ad manifested the slightest sign of excitement. Just now, howeve

g near the masked edge of the cliff. "You'll all be over if you don't have a care.

manded the Profe

Don't move an inch. I'm going back for a torch," he c

e Professor, not observing

d, pointing to the ledge of roc

-I know

! Walt's alive! But I don't kno

ad framed itself on the

d out in an ind

we going to do, Thomas-how

ast them, and, dropping down, leaned over the cliff,

d Tad tremulously, c

es down there. But I ain't

and shadows. Where is it tha

the edge of the light space made by

are coming. Hey, Walter! Where are you?" "H-e-r-e," was the faint response. "All rig

erfectly still," warned t

made some reply that was

ing to do, I'd like

a tough job. If I had a couple of mountaineers who knew th

and let it down to

the cook tent and tell Jose to give you those rawhid

the briefest possible time came racing back with the leather coils, which he to

ping over the shoulders of a man. This he dropped over the brink, after splicing two lariats together, and

e reaches you. Can you slip it over your sho

as no r

n there!" s

ndered Tad. "H-e-l

depths in answer to the boy's hail. T

" asked the Pr

d lasso him and haul him up. But I don't dare try it. Then again, these roots o

happened to him?" asked

ll grown man. Ain't no use to expect him to hook himself onto the line, even if he does wake up," decided t

to do? We've got to ge

ver after him,"

won't do it. Something else besides say

uld you

t. "That's the only way we can reach him," explained Lige, dangling t

t dark place? Oh!

cided the Professor sharply. "I could not think of allow

ed Ned Rector, stepping forward, w

Tad. "I am the one to go after Walt, if

gazing at the two boys approvingly. "It

y will," interrupted

Professor. "You yourself

e, shortly. "You'd have both of us at the botto

r when you are

ests, slipped the noose over Tad's shoulders, and, drawing it down and up under his arms

ut, before removing the rope from your own body, make sure that you are safe. If you find the support too weak to bear your weight, let me know. I'll send down another rope to which you ca

derst

you r

es

down on a shelf of rock at the edge

did he betray the slightest nervousness. Yet Tad Butler realized fully the perilous nature of his undertaking, and t

e line drew taut. After winding the end tightly a

rally more so for the boy who was about to desce

d the guide in a

ver the ledge, his right hand holding the torch, his left firmly gripping the

whide slip slowly around the trunk of the tree. As he did so

The movement sent his body sw

to steady himself, Tad wisely concluded that

d the guide. "Better lie down so you, too, don't take a notion

ce on the part of the little group at the top of the canyou. After what

ade fast the l

e answered, leani

ural to those above. "He's so far to the right of me that I

re i

a pinyon tree, I think it i

," cautioned t

laced under the rope so as to relieve the strain of the rock upon it, that there

ht. Now

feet below them, at the end of a slender line. Lige, leaning over the brink, was able to fo

point, and the watching guide knew that the cou

of the light far below them, the guide understood that the lad was at wor

or, unable to restrain his impatience longer, his

the best he can. Mebby you think he's having so

-l r

and clear, rose from t

sked Lige, making a m

w," was the answer that carried with it such a note of glad

e line, and stepping to the edge that he might command bot

g!" answer

ed only because the warning eyes of the guide were upon them, the two boys,

the guide gripped Walter by an arm an

ng struck on the yielding branches of the pinyon, which broke his fall and saved his life. Beyond sundry bruises, a black eye and a t

branches of the pinyon tree, with fifty feet of nothingness benea

m his grasp, the fagots scattering as they slipped down between the limbs of the tree and

the slender support with grim courage until a hail from above tol

n Tad had first descended, and the boy grasped eagerly at

to the top, amid the wild cheers of his companions and