ed on
the brink of a chasm. To draw back now was impossible.

Jerry's feet slipped over the edge. With a hoarse cry on his lips, he
shot down--down into the misty, yawning depths of space.

Several minutes later Sparwick crept tremblingly to the verge of the
precipice. With a white, scared face, he peeped over.

"Poor lad!" he muttered. "It's the end of him--a straight fall of not
less than a hundred feet. He must be smashed to a jelly. Well, dead men
tell no tales. I reckon the fifteen thousand is safe. I'd better be
makin' tracks for the cabin."

He turned away with a shudder.

CHAPTER XXXI.

A FRIEND IN NEED.

It was an hour after dawn when Sparwick returned to the cabin. Bogle was
up preparing breakfast. The boys lay on the bed with wide-open eyes.
They were delighted to see that Sparwick had come back alone, but their
exultation was quickly changed to deepest sorrow, when the story of
Jerry's sad accident was told.

They pleaded with their captors to have Jerry's body recovered--a
request that was firmly refused. After breakfast Bogle and Sparwick held
a long and earnest discussion. Then, much to the amazement of the boys,
they began to prepare for a journey.

"Where are you going?" Brick ventured to ask.

"None of your business," Bogle replied. "You'll know in good time."

"Come on! Lively, now," added Sparwick.

"I guess they're afraid that trapper will find poor Jerry and make
trouble," Brick whispered to his companion, as they passed out of the
door. "So they are going to hunt a safer hiding-place."

"That's about it," assented Hamp.

There was no chance to say more. A sled was given to each lad, and they
dropped into line behind Bogle, who assumed the lead with a rifle over
his shoulder.

In the rear came Sparwick, dragging the third sled and keeping a
watchful eye on the prisoners.

All morning the little party tramped steadily to the east. At noon they
stopped long enough for a lunch. Then they pushed on, through scenery of
the most lonely and rugged description, until three o'clock in the
afternoon.

A deep valley now lay before them. It was densely covered with trees and
undergrowth. After traversing it for half a mile, Bogle turned toward
the base of the hill. He pushed through a strip of heavy timber and
huge, scattered bowlders.

A moment later the weary travelers were at their destination.

The Rock House was aptly