“Isn’t this going to be a thriller of a picture, Verny?” called Julie, waving a hand at the wide canyon and the shimmering falls.
“For goodness’ sake, Julie! don’t go so close to the edge,” warned Joan. But she was too late.
In turning to address the Captain, Julie had inadvertently stepped back one pace too far. With the wave of her hand at the ravine she lost her balance. In a panic she flung out both hands to clutch at the nearest hold. They grasped the swaying vines which immediately tore away from their frail hold, and in a second’s time Julie was gone.
Every one stood momentarily transfixed with horror. The next second, however, the girls were screaming, Betty was wringing her hands, and the Captain flung herself at her husband, beseeching him to save Julie!
Hester still held the camera exactly as she had while waiting for the signal to snap the picture. She seemed utterly bereft of her senses, because she was turning the key that rolls the film, and she kept on turning it in her brain-shock until the entire roll of twelve exposures was used up. Tally was the only one who seemed to have any presence of mind.
“Boss, run get rope from packs! Me climb down canyon an’ help Mees Jule.”
“Tally, I must go with you to help,” called Mr. Gilroy, in opposition to the guide’s command; “let Mr. Vernon get the rope!”
The two men ran to the edge of the cliff where the crooked tree still leaned far out over the chasm, but Tally sought and found a place where he could get a clear unobstructed view of the side of the canyon directly under the jutting tree. And there he saw a sight that caused him to scream hysterically, “Julesafed! Julesafed!”
This announcement acted like an electric current on the others. With one impulse the scouts made a dash for the place where Tally stood, but Mr. Gilroy barred the way.
“Not much! You-all get back and leave us men do this,” shouted he, sternly.