"I can see the light," answered Marion; "but I am afraid to move, the tree shakes so."
She evidently made an effort to speak distinctly and cheerfully, but there was suffering as well as terror in the sound of her voice.
The brothers hastily consulted together.
"It will never do to try to go down here," said Bram; "we shall only send the stones down on her. Where is the nearest place?"
"The Cat Stairs," said Stanley.
Bram shook his head.
"Not in the dark."
"But you might hang the lantern round your neck, as you did the basket the other day," suggested Stanley. "If you could get down to her, you might encourage her to hold on. Then I could run back to James Tanner's and bring the boys, and Frank could go on to the saw-mill and do the same after he had seen you down the stairs."
"That's the best plan, depend upon it," said Frank. "Marie, can you hold on a little longer? Bram is trying to come down to you, and Stannie is going after help. Can you hold on?"
"I'll try. Yes, I think I can, if the tree don't break; but don't let Bram hurt himself. If one of you could hold the light so that I could see it."