He could not save himself despite his frantic efforts. The entire end of the bridge gave way, carrying him with it. Uttering an agonizing cry, he dropped into the chasm below.
Chapter 15
INTO THE CHASM
Rushing to the edge of the drop-off, Jack and Ken saw that Pedro had fallen into the stream below. The impact, they were certain, must have broken his back.
But, to their great relief, they saw him begin to move. With feeble, dog-like strokes, he swam toward the sheer walls of the chasm.
“Keep swimming!” Jack shouted encouragement. “We’ll get you out!”
Already Ken had uncoiled a long length of nylon rope which had served the party well in several previous emergencies.
The weighted line fell with a splash into the water close to the struggling Pedro. He managed to grasp it, and the Scouts pulled him to the rocks below. There, he gained more substantial support, dragging himself out on a shelf, where he lay exhausted.
“Jeepers! We’re in a pickle now,” Ken muttered, studying the terrain below. “Without help, it’s going to be hard to get Pedro out of that chasm.”
“And the burro is gone—with most of our stuff! We’re lucky though that Pedro wasn’t killed.”
“He’s badly hurt, Jack. If we can’t pull him out, we’ve got to get down there and give him first aid.”