I'll just think it," laughed Ned.
"We have sent for a rope, Tad," called Walter. "You must have
patience, for it may be several hours before he gets back."
"Whom did you send?"
"The noble red man," interjected Ned, with a laugh.
"Then, it is more likely to be a week before he returns," sighed the
lad.
They could almost hear Tad groan. However, there was nothing they
could do, and after talking back and forth for a time, the boys
settled down to rest, rather worn out from the excitement of the last
few hours.
Chunky, though, seemed drawn to the edge of the cliff as if by some
invisible force. He simply could not keep away from it.
Twice Ned Rector had hauled him back.
"Fall over if you wish to, Chunky. I can't be bothered to watch you
all the time," said Ned finally.
"I won't fall over. Once is enough," replied Stacy, then they left
him to himself.
The boy, observing that his friends were not looking, began to toss
tiny pebbles over. He was chuckling with glee. First he would throw
one, peer over to watch the effect, then dodge back. Stacy Brown's
sense of humor seemed impossible to satisfy.
At first Tad paid little attention, believing that what he heard
dropping about him was particles dislodged from the rocks overhead.
But when finally, a bit of limestone the size of a chestnut hit the
lad fairly on the top of his head and bounded off, he sprang up from
where he had been sitting, with an exclamation of impatience.
Pages:
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58