meet their friends at the opening where it had been agreed the meeting
should take place.

Each boy still carried upon his back the pack which had been placed there
when they had broken camp. The descent was consequently hampered somewhat
by the weight which rested upon their shoulders. Much of the way was
difficult and the three members of the party no longer were able to keep
closely together.

George, who still was the rear guard, steadily dropped behind his
companions until he was no longer able to discern them before him.

The way by which Zeke was leading now led along a side of the canyon where
the walking was increasingly difficult. The broken stone crumbled beneath
their feet and they were in constant danger of slipping or falling.

Aware that he had lost sight of his companions and was steadily falling
behind, George increased his pace, hoping to overtake his companions
within a few minutes.

In his zeal he approached nearer the edge of a ledge than he was aware.
Suddenly the broken stone gave way beneath his feet and in spite of his
efforts George was thrown from the ledge and began a swift descent on the
side of the cliff.

Fortunately the cliff-side was not as steep as in certain other places,
but the desperate boy was unable to check his flight.

He had given one wild call to his friends when first he had slipped over
the border. After that all his strength was required to prevent himself
from falling headlong.

In spite of his utmost endeavors his foothold soon became more insecure
and suddenly as the ground beneath him gave way George was thrown forward
on his face.

The heavy pack on his shoulders prevented him from rising or recovering
the ground he had lost. Rolling, slipping, sliding, the terrified boy
continued on his way down the side of the cliff.

CHAPTER XI

A PERILOUS FALL

Fortunately the side of the cliff down which George was slipping was not
sheer all the way. It was steep; indeed, so steep that it was impossible
for the frightened boy in spite of his desperate attempts to check his
flight, to gain a foothold. In his descent some of the loose ground gave
way and whenever he tried to seize a small projecting point that too fell
before him.

George was aware that far below him was the valley or bottom of the gulch.
There were possibilities that at any moment he might slide over some cliff
beneath which there was nothing to interfere with his fall to the ground
far bel