Personal peril was not exactly a new thing to the major, who was also a man of fixed ideas; but he made a little comprehensive gesture when Sewell glanced significantly at the edge of the precipice.
"I don't know, sir, and really don't think an attempt to find out would be advisable," he said.
As a matter of fact, they never did discover what became of the bear; but in the meanwhile nobody said anything further for a moment or two. Then the major rubbed his leg.
"We couldn't very well stay here all night—and I've hurt my knee," he said.
Ingleby glanced at the almost precipitous descent. "I'm afraid we couldn't get you up without a rope."
"I am quite satisfied that you couldn't, and don't propose to let you try," said the major. "There are, however, the pack-horse lariats at my camp, and it can't be more than two miles away. I have a police trooper there. One of you could get up?"
Ingleby fancied that it was within his powers.
"I'll try, sir, if it's only because I believe I came very near shooting you," he said.
Coulthurst laughed. "You were within an ace of it."
Ingleby said nothing further, but crawled very cautiously up the slope.