“For him––yes!” broke in Ashton, his voice harsh and strained. He was cringing back, white-faced, from the edge of the gulch.
“Why, Lafe!” exclaimed the girl. “If Tom––Mr. Blake goes down, surely you can’t mean that you––”
“He’s used to climbing––I’m not!” Ashton sought to excuse himself. 272
“Oh, very well,” she said. “Of course it is not right to ask you to do it if you suffer from vertigo. I shall ask Kid to take your place. If he refuses, Daddy will do it.”
“That may mean delay,” remarked Blake. “If that scoundrel really is headed for Utah, your father may not be back for several days. Yet he asked me to settle this matter as soon as possible.”
“Then, if Kid will not go down with you, I shall,” declared the girl, her blue eyes flashing.
“No, no indeed, dear!” protested Genevieve. “It is simply impossible! You shall not do it!”
“I shall, unless Kid––”
“You shall not ask him!” interposed Ashton, his pale face suddenly flushing a hot red. “I am going down!”
“You will, Lafayette?” cried Genevieve. “That is very brave and––and kind of you!”