“None of that, you idiot!” he called sharply. “Brace up or you’ll fall! Here, put a foot on my shoulder for a minute. Now take a dozen good long breaths.”
“I—can’t!” muttered Tad.
“You can! When I count now! One—two—three— Doing it?”
“Yes, but—it makes me dizzy.”
“Stop, then, and close your eyes a minute. If you’d take decent care of your lungs,” went on Kitty grumblingly, “they wouldn’t mind a little pure air!”
“Old—Leather Lungs!” murmured Tad with a very wan smile. Kitty grunted.
“Come on down now. Feel pretty good?”
“I guess so. Yes, I’m all right. Go ahead, Kitty.”
Tad followed to the end of the slanting fissure and then began the scramble down and around the corner. When they were near the ledge Kitty called, “Don’t try getting to the ledge. Come straight down. There’s good going. Watch me.”