“What the deuce—” he abruptly exclaimed as he felt himself sinking downward.
CHAPTER XVII.
AN UNCEREMONIOUS ARRIVAL.
BY a remarkable coincidence Dick Hamilton trod in the very steps of his brother Harvey while groping about the gorge, and went crashing and tumbling to the bottom in the precise fashion of his predecessor.
Retaining his grasp on his Winchester, he strove desperately to check his descent, but from the causes mentioned failed and landed on his feet, bewildered and unable for the moment to comprehend what had taken place. The racket and his exclamations roused Harvey, who was so mystified that he whipped out his revolver and fired a shot in the direction of the noise without being able to discern his target.
“Stop that!” shouted the elder; “you may hit me!”
“Heavens, Dick, is it you?” demanded the younger.
Finding himself unharmed, Dick’s waggery asserted itself.
“I don’t know who else it is. That’s the way I always come downstairs. What are you doing here?”