a ridiculous sight, and that was why Rob
winked his eye at Merritt when he thought he could detect a whimsical
look on the other's face. Still, it was anything but a laughing matter
to poor Tubby, who felt that he had a tremendous amount at stake. Every
time he found himself compelled to let his horrified eyes turn downward
that noisy stream seemed to be more and more formidable to him. He
fairly hated it.

"Can't you climb up again, Tubby?" asked Merritt, who knew exactly what
he would have quickly done had he found himself placed in the same
predicament.

"I'd like to, the worst kind," the fat scout assured him, "but you know
I'm feeling very queer and weak, so I don't believe I could do much that
way, unless," he added quickly, "I had some assistance from above."

"And that's just what I'm going to try and give you, Tubby."

While Rob was saying this he had unbuttoned his coat. This he proceeded
to take off, first making sure to transfer anything he had in the
pockets, so that he might not suffer a loss.

"Now, by leaning down here, I think I can reach you with this coat," he
proceeded to explain. "If I had a rope, it would be much easier, for
with a loop I could make a sure thing of it. But half a loaf is better
than no bread, they say."

"Of course it is, Rob," agreed Tubby, who was in no position to quarrel
with any measures that were taken for his relief. "But what can I do
with the coat when it comes down to me? I don't feel that cold, you
know."

"I'm going to keep hold of one end, Tubby," Rob explained quietly, in a
way to convince the imperiled scout that everything was working as
arranged, and that he need not worry. "With just one hand you get a good
grip of the end that's near you; then start in to try and climb, using
your clasped legs the best you know how. And don't get discouraged if
you only come up an inch or so at a time. When you're within reach
Merritt will hang down and lend a hand, too."

All of which was undoubtedly very cheering to Tubby. This thing of
having stanch comrades in times of distress was, he had always
believed, one of the best parts of the scout brotherhood.

[Illustration: He immediately took a firm grip--and commenced to wriggle
the best he knew how.--_Page 247._]

He immediately took a firm grip of the dangling coat-sleeve, and
commenced to wriggle the best he knew how.

"I'm making it, Rob; sure I am!" he presently announced. "That time I
slid up as much as six