“Do be careful, Jack!” I called. “That branch isn’t safe.”
“P’f! It’s as safe as houses!” said Jack airily. “Don’t bother a chap, Miss Earle—women are always fussy. I only want to get to this good old nest, and then I’ll——”
There was a splintering crack and the branch sagged down suddenly. Jack clung to it for a moment while I ran towards him wildly; then he fell, as I made an ineffectual attempt to catch him. It failed, but it broke his fall. We went down to the ground together. A loose rock on the edge gave under us, and we rolled down the bank amid a scatter of stones and loose earth, ending with our feet in the creek.
We were both up in a moment, laughing. Dr. Firth’s alarmed face peered over the bracken-fringed bank above us.
“Anyone hurt?”
“Nothing but a few scratches,” I answered. “But we seem to have brought down half the bank—it’s a regular avalanche. I don’t believe we can get up there, Jack.”
“Oh, can’t we!” Jack uttered. “Bet you I can. I’ll go ahead, Miss Earle, ’n’ then I can pull you up.”
“You needn’t trouble,” I thanked him. “I prefer a place where it’s a little cleaner. Not that that matters much, since we rolled down!” I looked ruefully at my earth-stained frock.
“Well, I’ll show you!” said Jack sturdily.
He scrambled up, sending down showers of small stones and loose soil, while I watched him, half expecting him to come sliding back to my feet. Just as he neared the top, my eye caught sight of a tiny object half hidden in our miniature avalanche—something that shone faintly. I stooped forward and picked up a bright sixpence.