Grace Disappeared Over the Edge.
Suddenly the army officer’s sister swayed dizzily, and, had Grace lost her head for a second, a disaster probably would have resulted. Grace’s arm quickly encircled the waist of Miss Cartwright and drew her back, now in a fainting condition. The dizzy height had been too much for the young woman’s nerves. Grace gravely handed her over to Colonel Cartwright.
“I am sorry, sir, that I encouraged her. It was not prudent of me at all,” she said.
Grace, after studying the face of the cliff for a few moments, stepped back and spoke to Ike Fairweather, pointing to a projecting tower of rock that crowned the tableland like a monument.
“You can snub the rope around that,” she said.
“Mrs. Gray, surely you are not going to try that desperate descent?” begged General Gordon.
“Try is the word, General. If you think it advisable, take Mrs. Gordon and Miss Cartwright for a walk. To see me go over may upset them. The descent is perfectly safe, provided the rope doesn’t break. I have my reasons, other than mere curiosity, for attempting to get to the Community House down there.”
“Very good, Mrs. Gray. Depend upon me for whatever I may be able to do. I think I understand your real motive. Do not worry about the ladies; if they cannot stand it to see you go over they can turn their backs on you.”
Preparations were quickly made, Miss Cartwright observing wide-eyed and a little pale. Ike had made a sling with a board bottom for Grace to sit in. In addition to this, she slipped a loop of the rope under her shoulders. Grace then produced the ball of strong twine from her kit, and made an end fast to the “monument.” She directed that some one keep hold of the twine at all times for signals.
“One pull will mean that I have a message to send up; two pulls will advise you that I am to be hauled up,” Grace informed them. “Are you ready?”