"I'm going to fire my pistol again," said Dick, and did, so, but no response came back and he re-loaded as crestfallen as ever.
It was a clear day, but the very sun seemed a mockery as it beamed down upon them.
"Supposing we separate and renew the hunt?" suggested Sam, but
Wumble slowly shook his head.
"None o' that, lad. It will only be a case of another one lost.
No, we must keep within sight of each other, no matter what we do.
Come, I have an idea of looking into the valley on the other side
of this hill, and then we can try the hill yonder."
Anything was better than sitting still, and once more they rode on.
For the time being the enemy was almost forgotten.
They were going down along the edge of the cliff when, without warning, Dick's horse began to slip, having stepped on a rock which was insecure.
"Hi! whoa!" yelled the youth, and tried to hold the horse back. Then, as he saw the animal could not save himself, he leaped for the ground. The horse managed to scramble to a place of safety, but Dick, in trying to avoid a dangerous hoof stroke from the beast, lost his balance and went crashing down into the bushes overhanging the cliff!
Down and down, and still down, went the elder Rover, from one bush to another, his clothing catching here and there, thus partly staying his progress. But he could not stop himself entirely, and reaching the stream at last he went in with a loud splash and disappeared from view!
"Dick's gone!" ejaculated Sam. He tried to look over the edge of the cliff. "Oh, my! He will be drowned!"
He had heard the splash, as had also Wumble, and now both dismounted with all speed and crept to the very edge of the bushes. But the cliff bulged outward just below them and they could see nothing but a strip of the water on the opposite side.