“But if we get down there, how will we ever get up again?” Johnny wondered.
“I don’t know!” Gran’pa exclaimed, “but I know I shall not leave Gran’ma down there alone!” So with that, Gran’pa jumped from the cliff and turned over and over before he hit the Rubber River upon his back.
The children thought he never would stop bouncing.
By this time the children could see the Wolves in the distance.
“What shall we do?” Janey cried, wringing her hands. “If we jump down we may never get up again, if we stay here we shall be caught by the Wolves, and if we go across they will follow us!”
“We could go across and then, when the Wolves tried to follow, we could bounce the Vine Bridge and shake them off!” Johnny suggested.
“Yes, and shake them down to Gran’ma and Gran’pa! No, Johnny, that will never do!”
“Then you cross the Vine Bridge, Sis, and I’ll show you what we’ll do! Hurry now, before it’s too late!”
Janey ran across the Vine Bridge, and when she had reached the other side Johnny drew his knife from his pocket and hacked at the vines. The small, sharp blade soon cut them in two. He was none too quick, for just as he severed the last strand of the Vine Bridge the Leader of the Wolves sprang toward Johnny.
