Howard Brent had scarcely a moment of wondering whether it were humanly possible that he could trust himself to crawl downward over the crumbling rock and reach his companions. By this method he might rescue Peggy, but not Ralph. He could not, of course, pull them both up together, the moment Peggy released her hold Ralph had no chance.
Howard simply did not consider the saving of Ralph first.
But he did turn his head to look up the trail for help, and he did call out as loudly as possible. They were not so far down, that some one of the Camp Fire party might not hear him. The chance was a slim one, yet every desperate chance must be taken.
Howard was greatly surprised when his call was immediately answered.
The next instant there appeared above him the wise grey head of a small burro, with a long-legged man seated on his back. But, best of all, the burro had a rope thrown carelessly about his neck.
The man and the burro did look as if they represented a special act of Providence, but the reason for their sudden appearance was a very simple one indeed.
Mrs. Burton had not known of Peggy’s and Ralph’s intention to go on farther down the trail, until five or ten minutes after their disappearance with Howard Brent, when Bettina came to her and mentioned the fact. Mrs. Burton had been occupied with other things and, after the safe arrival of the Camp Fire party on this plateau of rock where they were to spend the day, had gone away from the others and laid down for a few minutes.
Indeed, her eyes were closed and she was half asleep when Bettina found her. But Bettina was too uneasy not to confide in her at once.
Mrs. Burton immediately shared Bettina’s anxiety. If Mrs. Webster had given her consent, it was because she knew nothing of the dangers of the rocky trails and Peggy had clouded her judgment.
But she did not go to her sister. It was Mrs. Burton’s idea, as it had always been Polly O’Neill’s, that Mollie should be spared whenever possible. So she found one of their guides and sent him on down the trail after the wanderers as quickly as he could be started.