Dave looked at the two stones between which the man's foot was wedged.
Then with a heavy tree branch, inserted in such a way as not to bring any
crushing force on the stranger's leg, Dave used the branch as a lever and
pressed down with all his might.

"It's giving!" the man cried. "I can feel it giving!"

"Look out for yourself!" Dave shouted.

Once more he pressed down hard on the tree lever.

The rocks were pried apart. The man's foot slipped free. Dave, seeing
this, dropped the branch, made a grab for the leg, for the man's body was
going over the cliff. Of course he could not fall _far_, as the rope would
hold him, but Dave wanted to save him this jerk if possible.

The young cowboy caught the stranger's boot. Dave was aware of a cry of
pain from the man, and realized that the ankle must be severely injured.

"I can't help it," thought Dave, grimly. "I've got to hurt him some to
save him more," and he held on desperately.

Dave was strong, and the man, now that his foot was free, was able to use
his hands to push himself back, up over the edge of the cliff. After a few
seconds of rather strenuous struggle Dave, with the help of the man
himself, was able to get him to a sitting position on the edge of the
cliff that overhung the gully.

The man was pale, and his face was scratched and bleeding. His clothing
was disheveled, and he showed many signs of the struggle through which he