old indomitable pluck
held good. When a drop of perspiration, mingled with blood from those
scratches, dimmed his vision, Step Hen would dash one hand impatiently
across his eyes, and then go right on clambering downward.

Toby kept as near the boy as he could. Had he possessed a rope he
would certainly have fastened himself to Step Hen, as a means of
protecting the lad against an ugly fall; just as the glacier climbers
do when ascending to the snow-covered summit of some lofty mountain
peak; so that should one slip, another, having a firm hold at the
time, could bear him up.

Again and again he cautioned his companion against trusting his weight
on some inviting projecting knob of stone, which he himself had tried,
and found wanting; for the guide had insisted on going first as a sort
of pilot; when his real object was to be in position to clutch hold of
the boy, if possible, should Step Hen make a bad move and fall.

But they finally managed to reach the bottom without any accident
happening, for which both of them were thankful enough. They threw
themselves upon the rocks, utterly exhausted, and panting for breath.
Step Hen was indeed very near a complete collapse; for the boy had
been under a terrible strain recently, both mentally and bodily.

After a little, however, when he had pumped much good air into his
system, and regained some of his lost breath, Step Hen remembered.

"I hadn't ought to be lyin' around this way, when those fellers up
yonder are all tied up in knots waitin' to know whether we've made the
riffle, or got stuck part way down. So here goes to tell 'em. They
know from my note what we want 'em to try and do next."

So he started in again with those queer sounds that seemed to climb up
the face of the cliff as though on ladders that were invisible. And
there came back similar sounds, which Step Hen listened to with
eagerness, finally crying out:

"They understand that we're safe down here; and Davy says as how he
thinks he knows a way to work around. And now, since we've got some time
on our hands, Toby, let's look about for a place to spend the night."

But Toby had not forgotten something that he had spoken of before.

"As for the camp, I'll take keer of that," he said; "while you drop
down aside this leetle crick here, and wash your face and hands. The
sooner ye git them 'ere scratches clean, the better, I reckon. Heaps
of trouble kin grow out of a little keerlessness in that regard."