CHAPTER IV

INTO THE CANYON


"Thaddeus, I cannot consent to this. I--"

"Please, now, Professor, don't stop me. I'm all right, don't you see
I am?"

"Yes, at this precise moment you are. It's the moments to come that I
am thinking about."

"Don't you worry one little bit. Walt, will you bring me two of those
staking-down ropes? I want to splice them on in case this one should
prove to be a little short. Distance is deceptive, looking down, as
we are here."

"What do you want us to do?" asked Ned.

"Hold on to the rope, that's all."

"In other words, we are to be a sort of 'tug-of-war' team, eh? Is
that it?"

"I suppose it is, Ned."

"Then I hope we win."