I can't," sobbed Tommy, who immediately began to wriggle in an
attempt to reach the shelf.

"Then keep quiet. Don't stir." Instead of keeping quiet, the girl,
now fairly beside herself with fear, began a series of lunges for the
ridge above her. The result was what Harriet had feared. She felt
herself slipping forward toward the edge. In those few seconds Harriet
Burrell came nearer to realizing what fear was than ever before. To
let go would be to save herself at the cost of Tommy's life. Harriet
not only held on; but reached over her free hand which she clasped over
that of her companion. Now she slipped more than ever. Her companions
did not seem to realize what had occurred. It had all come about so
quickly that they did not quite comprehend.

"Grab me!" cried Harriet. "I've got her! Why don't you do something?
I'm slipping over. Quick! For mercy's sake, move!"

Jane McCarthy, who, with Janus, was still clinging to the rope, now
dropped it and sprang forward. Jane went down on her knees, grasping
Harriet by the ankles.

"Hold me! Are you all asleep?" shouted Jane.

Janus awakened suddenly. But Miss Elting was a little ahead of him.
The guardian sprang behind Jane and slipped both arms around the
latter's waist.

"Help Harriet!" she cried.

Janus ran forward with a rope, making a noose in it as he ran. The
guide went down on his knees beside Harriet Burrell.

"Can you swing her a little without dropping her?" he shouted.

"Yes, but she'll be dreadfully frightened."

"We can't help that. Swing her," commanded Janus.

Harriet did so, bringing from Tommy Thompson a series of terrified
screams. If any one else heard he must have believed that some one was
being killed. But her shouts and screams did no harm. The guide took
quick advantage of the opportunity offered by Harriet to slip the loop
in the rope over one of Tommy's feet, then draw it taut.

"I'm caught. Mercy, I'm caught!" screamed Tommy.

"Hang on to her! Don't let go! Stop that yelling until I tell you
what to do!" commanded the guide. "We're going to pull you up the best
way we can git you up. If you don't like it, don't fight; just yell.
Hold her as she is, Miss Harriet, while I give her foot a yank."

He really did jerk on the rope, but more for the purpose of tightening
the loop than for any other reason. Of course, the proceeding was
followed by an ear-piercing scream. Janus promptly began to pull up on
the li