“Think you could drop down with the stream and land somewhere near the fort to tell them how we’re pressed?”
“Dessay I could, sir; but don’t send me, please.”
“Why?” asked Roberts and Bracy in a breath.
Gedge gave them a comical look, and waved his hand in the direction of his comrades.
“We all come out together to have what we called a nice little walk, sir, and a look at that there waterfall, as turned out to be farther off than we reckoned on. I shouldn’t like to cut off and leave ’em in the lurch, sir.”
“Lurch? Nonsense, my lad,” said Bracy. “You would be going on a very risky errand to try and save us all.”
“Yes, sir; o’ course, sir; but I could get one of ’em over that little bit if you three gents could manage t’other. They’ll be all right in a few minutes.”
“I don’t like sending him,” said Roberts. “It is very dangerous, and we must, try it together.”
His companions gave; a short, sharp nod, and acquiesced.
“If we only knew what is below us!” said Bracy as he gazed down-stream.