d from his
hold of the bush. As it was, he maintained his hold, and hung for a few
seconds suspended in the air. Nelly's shriek revived him from the gush
of deadly terror that seized him when he fell. He grasped the boughs
above him, and was quickly in a position of comparative security among
the branches of the bush.

"All right, Nell," he gasped, on hearing her repeat her cry of despair.
"I'm holdin' on quite safe. Keep back from the edge, lass--there's no
fear o' me."

"Are you sure, Roy?" cried Nelly, trembling very much, as she stretched
forward to try to catch sight of her brother.

"Ay, quite sure; but I can't get up, for there's six feet o' smooth rock
above me, an' nothin' to climb up by."

"Oh! what _shall_ I do!" cried Nelly.

"Don't get flurried--that's the main thing, lass. Let me think--ay,
that's it--you've got your belt?"

"Yes."

"Well, take it off and drop the end over to me; but lie down on your
breast, and be careful."

Nelly obeyed, and in a few seconds the end of the worsted belt that
usually encircled her waist was dangling almost within reach of her
brother. This belt was above five feet long. Roy wore one of similar
material and length. He untied it, and then sought to lay hold of the
other. With some difficulty, and much risk of falling, he succeeded,
and fastened his own belt to it firmly.

"Now, Nell, haul up a little bit--hold! enough."

"What am I to do now?" asked Nell, piteously; "I cannot pull you up, you
know."

"Of course not; but take your snow-shoe and dig down to the rocks--
you'll find somethin', I dare say, to tie the belts to. Cheer up, lass,
and go at it."

Thus encouraged, the active little girl soon cleared away the snow until
she reached the ground, where she found several roots of shrubs that
seemed quite strong enough for her purpose. To one of these she tied
the end of her belt, and Roy, being an athletic lad, hauled himself up,
hand over hand, until he gained a place of safety.

"But the sledge is gone," cried Nelly, pausing suddenly in the midst of
her congratulations.

"Ay, and the grub," said Roy, with a blank look.

This was indeed too true, and on examination it was found that things
were even worse than had been anticipated, for the sledge had fallen on
a ledge, half way down the precipice, that was absolutely inaccessible
either from above or below. An hour was spent in ascertaining this,
beyond all doubt, and then Roy determined to