t the grinning speaker.

But he refrained, and turned to get a fresh grip of Gwyn, who seemed to
have recovered somewhat, too.

"He's a beast!" cried Joe, angrily, for the anger was working in the
right direction.

Hardock began again,--

"Rope cut, Master Gwyn?" he cried. "S'pose it does, though. Well, when
you two are ready, just say. I've got him tight enough. But, hark ye,
here; can you tell what I say?"

"Yes," cried Joe, in a choking voice.

"That's right. Well, first thing you do, my lad, you try and ease the
rope over the edge. It checks you like, don't you see? Stretch your
arms well over, Colonel, and get your fingers in a crack and find a
place for your toes, while young Joe Jollivet eases the knot over. Take
it coolly. There's nothing to mind. I've got yer, yer know. Ready?"

"Yes. Now, Ydoll, old chap," whispered Joe, "can you do what he says
and find foothold?"

There was a peculiar staring look in the boy's eyes, but he began to
search about with his toes; and almost at once found a crack that he had
passed over before, forced in the end of one boot, and, reaching over,
he gripped the rope with both hands.

"Get tight hold of my collar," he whispered rather faintly. "Can you do
it kneeling?"

"No power," said Joe, huskily, "I must stand."

He rose to his feet, gripping the collar as he was told, gazing there
into Gwyn's eyes, for he dared not look down beyond him into the dizzy
depth.

"Now," said Gwyn, "when you're ready, I'll try and raise myself a bit,
and you throw yourself back."

"Wait a moment," panted Joe. Then he shouted, "Now I am--all together!"

"Right! Hauley hoi!" came back, and with one effort Gwyn curved his
body, forcing his breast clear of the edge, joined his strength to that
of his comrade in the effort to rise, and the next moment Joe was on his
back with Gwyn being dragged over him.

Then came an interval of inaction, for the three actors in the perilous
scene lay prone upon the rough surface of the cliff, Hardock having
thrown himself upon his face.

"Oh, Gwyn, old chap!--oh, Gwyn," groaned Joe.

"Hah! Yes; it was near," sighed the rescued boy, as he slowly rose to a
sitting posture, and began to unfasten the rope. "I thought I was
gone."

"It was horrid--horrid--horrid!" groaned Joe. "And I couldn't do
anything."

He rose slowly, wiping his brow, which was dripping with perspiration,
and the two boys sat there in the sunshine gazing at on