‘Do you see that bough-tip straight below you?’
‘Yes,’ I answered dully.
‘Can you drop to it?’
‘I’ll try.’
‘Don’t be a fool! You’ve done much bigger things than that. Here’s our plan: We’ll start barking at the cat and take her attention off you while you drop. It’s a possible jump from the bough below across to this tree, and you’ll have plenty of time, for the cat will have to climb down the trunk. Do you understand?’
‘Yes,’ I replied faintly.
I had been in such a queer dazed condition that I had never even noticed the possible avenue of escape which Rusty pointed out. Looking down, it seemed a perfectly terrific drop. Indeed, it was something like twenty feet, and if I missed it there was another thirty to the frozen snow beneath.
‘Are you ready?’ came Rusty’s voice, sharp and threatening.
‘Yes,’ I said again.