[Suddenly Franz remembered when Caesar had found Emil Gottschalk buried in the snow]
But Caesar would not stop staring down it, and only three feet below was the ledge where he had rested his paws. Franz stepped down, widened the ledge with his shovel and reached behind him to help the dog down. He sought the next ledge that he might dig out with his shovel.
They were halfway down the wall when the boy heard a thunderous, "Franz! Franz! Come back!"
He recognized Father Benjamin's voice but he dared not look back, for even a fairy could not have found more standing room on the thin ledge where the boy and his dog stood. Franz reached down with his shovel to scoop out the next ledge.
After what seemed an eternity, they were at the bottom of the wall.
Caesar ran forward and began to dig in the snow. Scraping beside him, presently Franz found the limp arm of a man.
Cold as the arm was, he could still feel the pulse that beat within it.
14: THE
MESSAGE
