"I am not hurt. I only toppled over from sheer awkwardness," he explained to John Marshall and Eric Lawton, who rushed forward to his assistance.
"How did you know what was about to happen, Perry?" John Marshall inquired. Older than the others, he felt that he should have been first to the rescue.
"Oh, I don't know. I happened to be looking up toward the top of the tree at the moment Olivia paused underneath. I was not thinking," Cecil grinned, "I don't often think, I am not equal to it; but I saw that a big limb of the tree had broken directly away from the trunk and was being held in place by another branch. I was about taking that in, when a stray breeze came along above our heads and the broken branch wobbled. Afterwards I made a plunge for Olivia."
He turned toward her.
"I hope I did not frighten you and that you are not hurt. Between us I trust the silver arrow is safe."
Olivia smiled.
"The arrow is safe and so am I, but you did frighten me, I confess. How was I to guess why you sprang at me in that unexpected fashion?"
The young girl came closer and added in an undertone: "You are hurt, I am sure, but I understand you prefer the others not to know. In a few moments suppose we go back to the house together and let me tell father."
Cecil shook his head; nevertheless, he dropped quickly back into his place beside Lina, slightly paler from his recent exertion.
"The silver arrow may now be seen in fact as well as told in fiction," he declared. "Go ahead, let us forget the brief interruption and discuss Jeanette's idea of a club of the Silver Arrow which is to test one's courage."