"Good luck! I wish I could help you."
"I don't need help now. There is no further danger. Are my friends down there hungry?"
"Stacy Brown is thinking of nibbling rocks."
Tad laughed, then began climbing up the trail. Nance, watching him narrowly, saw that the boy was very weary, being scarcely able to drag himself along. After a time Tad passed out of sight up what was left of Bright Angel Trail. Nance, with a sigh, turned to begin retracing his steps down to the Pony Rider Boys' party.
"Well, he made it, didn't he?" cried Ned. "We have been watching him all the time."
"There's a real man," answered the guide, with an emphatic nod. "Pity there aren't more like him."
"There is one like him," spoke up Chunky.
"Who?"
"Little me," answered the fat boy, tapping his chest modestly.
"That's so; Chunky did jump into the raging flood," said Walter. "We mustn't forget that he acted the part of a brave man while we were standing there shivering and almost gasping for breath."