which Hugh had once sighed for had come to him in a most wonderful way.

He succeeded in making his way down in safety, though once he slipped,
and had a thrill of alarm pass over him. Now he found himself alongside
Claude. The boy's face was the color of ashes;

Hugh had never looked upon a corpse in all his life, but he could not
help comparing Claude's pallid countenance to one.

He was glancing around with the eye of a general who lets nothing,
no matter how trivial, escape him. Just a foot below Claude's dangling
toes there was a narrow ledge. If only both of them could find
lodgment upon this, and have some hold above for their hands, they
might maintain their position until Hugh's shouts attracted "Just"
Smith to the spot, and he could do something to aid them.

"Listen, Claude," he said earnestly. "There's a way to save you,
if only you keep your head about you. 'Just' Smith is coming along
the road, and I'll shout out to guide him here so he can help us."

"But---the bush is going to give way right off!" gasped the terrified
boy.

"Well, below us there's a ledge where we must plant our feet, and hold
on," continued Hugh, convincingly. "I'm going to drop down to it now.
Then you must try to lower yourself along the bush, inch by inch, until
you feel the ledge under you. Don't be afraid, because I mean to grab
hold of you; but when you feel me touching you, above all things don't
let go above, or you'll throw us both down. Now, be ready, Claude;
and, remember, it's going to be all right. Keep cool!"