At such information Mr. Vernon could not control himself, but he ran over to the outlook point whence the Indian had spied the fallen scout upon the ledge. He saw the Guide about to pick up the unconscious girl. In another moment Tally had her upon his back as a trained first aid would; then, carefully, he picked his way along the narrow shelf of mossy rock till he reached the place where it ran into the slope. Here Mr. Gilroy was waiting with the aromatic ammonia. The next thing Mr. Vernon saw was Julie kicking violently and struggling with the strong pungent fumes of the ammonia.
“She’s all right! Julie’s come to again!” shouted Mr. Vernon to the anxious group waiting to hear from him. “Get some water, some one, and have a glass of water ready to dash in her face, in case she feels faint again!” But he remained where he was till the last signs of the three on the slope of the chasm had vanished.
At his order, the scouts ran here and there in vain, then said: “Where can we find any water, Verny, other than over the falls?”
“Let Unk Verny go get the water if he thinks it is so easy a matter,” replied Mrs. Vernon, testily, dropping upon the grass and using her sleeve to dry the beads of anxiety from her brow.
Joan laughed hysterically as she added: “We’ll tell him to use the old oaken bucket that hangs in the well! It’s so convenient to our hand just here.” Her laugh broke the tension and every scout present laughed uproariously, then felt better.
By this time the two rescuers came in sight, helping Julie to use her shaky limbs. Then Mr. Gilroy called out to his friends:
“Jule’s all right again. She argued to be allowed to walk, so that shows she is O. K.!”
“Of course, I’m all right! I did that very stunt just to get a good snapshot of myself going over the edge, and I suppose Hester got so frightened that she forgot to snap the picture,” said Julie, as she allowed her helpers to seat her upon the moss.
“Oh, Julie, dear! Did you really! How you frightened me!” wailed Betty, with the suggestion of a complaint in her tones.
Every one laughed at gullible little Betty, and Julie said, “Yes, of course I did! If only that picture turns out well!”