I will take the dark one, you attack the
light fellow, and mind what you are about, for they are as strong and
active as tigers. _Now_!"

At the word both men sprang forward with uplifted cane-knives, and made
a slash at the dogs. The creatures tried to dodge the blows, and one of
them--the one attacked by Tom--succeeded. George, however, was more
fortunate; he made a feint, and as the dog sprang aside, he followed him
up, recovering his weapon smartly at the same time, and bringing it down
in another second on the creature's head with such strength and effect
that the skull was cloven open, and the poor brute, with a yell of
agony, rolled over dead. Tom, meanwhile, was battling ineffectually
with the dog he had attacked, and George turned just in time to see the
hound spring savagely at the lad's throat, and hurl him to the ground.
With a single bound Leicester reached Tom's side, and raising the
cane-knife above his head, and grasping the handle with both hands, he
brought it down with all his strength across the dog's neck, taking care
to avoid the thick leather collar which protected it. The blow clove
through skin and bone, dividing the spine and nearly severing the head
from the body; but even then it was difficult to free poor Tom from the
iron jaws which had seized him. With a vigorous wrench, however, this
was effected, and George then dragged the lad to his feet.

"Are you hurt?" panted Leicester.

"No," gasped Tom. "The beast only seized me by the collar of my jacket,
and--"

"Then come on at once," interrupted George; "the third dog has turned
tail, like a craven, luckily for us. Now slip the bight of the lanyard
over your neck, and follow me. Leave the cane-knives; they will only
encumber us, and perhaps throw us down the face of the precipice. Now,
look out, I'm going to start."

As George spoke, he approached the face of the precipice, and, taking
advantage of whatever projections he could find, began the task of
scaling it, Tom following behind, and Walford slung in his make-shift
hammock between the two.

They worked desperately, these two men, knowing how much depended upon
the next few minutes, and an onlooker would have been astounded at the
progress they made, encumbered as they were with the weight and bulk of
their helpless companion.

In one minute from the time of starting they had gained a height of
forty feet, and then the sudden trampling of horses' hoofs, and the loud
sho