“Worried to death,” echoed May.
“Shucks! Don’t be silly. This isn’t any kind of a trick. Anyone else coming along? You, Kitty?”
Kitty shook his head. “Guess not. I’ve done it twice. Don’t believe in exercise too soon after eating. Be careful near the top, Tad. It’s hard going. If you want help, sing out.”
“What’ll you do? Come up and boost me?” Tad laughed as he laid aside his coat. “Here goes, then!”
He swung off from the ledge, found a footing on the narrow trail that led steeply away around the corner of the Rock, and in a moment was out of sight.
“He’s a silly ass,” grumbled Rodney. “What did you let him do it for, Kitty?”
Kitty looked surprised. “Me? Didn’t tell him to do it, did I?”
“No, but you could have stopped him. If he falls and hurts himself——”
“I just know he will!” sighed May. “I—I feel it.”
“If he does, he will feel it,” muttered Rodney, trying from the edge of the jutting ledge to catch a glimpse of the climber. But Tad was out of sight, and Rodney sat down again to wait his return. “We ought to be starting back pretty soon, too,” he grumbled, studying his watch. “It’s almost twenty to one.”