The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-11-27

~, after he had studied the situation a
moment, "but how far away is some
house? do not know"
"1t would take you an hour to go and
get back" said the girl. "Can you not do
something else? If 1 had only little thing
to hold on to, I could crawl back, but 1
dare mott
"No, no, franklin interrupted the
professor. "You must lie still I will
something do"
Opening his knapsack, he fumbled in
side Of it for a moment and drew out a
stout gray flannel shirt This he tore into
strips, and, knotting the strips together,
he had in a. little while a. string long
enough to reach across the dangerous
slope. AS he worked he chatted with the
girl, who was cool enough now that some
one was near to aid her.
She had been picking berries, she told
him, and, although she knew the ground
well and understood how treacherous the
grassy slopes were, after the late summer
sun scorched them, she had slipped from
pure carelessness, and, falling, she had slid
out Of reach of the bushes Struggling to
rise, she had slipped farther and farther
toward the edge until she realized that
her only chance of safety was to lie still
and call for help.
"And l was so thankful when I heard
you answer" she said, "for did not know
but I would have to lie here till they
missed me at home and came out to search
for me.'
eyes, it was good that study the rocks
today" said the professor. "But now lie
still some more till my rope shall touch
your fingers. Then do not too hard pull
it, for it is not so strong. But it will help
you little, and you can up the hill creep
carefully" And he tied a small stone to
one end of the string and slid it down to-
ward her till she grasped it, he holding
the other end.
1t was very easy then for her, having
something to steady her, to make her way
upward to where he stood, at the edge of
the slope, holding the string firmly. All
went well till she came within reach of his
outstretched hand, when, as he stopped to
lift her to her feet, his own footing gave
way, and he fell headlong beside her on
the slippery grass
He strove in vain to stop himself, grasp
ing frantically at the grass, which broke as
he clutched it. Carried swiftly by the mo-
mentum of his fall, he slipped smoothly
down TO the very edge and over it, falling,
with u loud Cry, sheer over the cliff.
The girl called out twice, but there was
no Gswer, and with terrible fear lest
s. should find only lifeless body she
/ 2ned around by the nearest practicable
y to the foot of the cliff
was not dead, as he found immedi-
:. But when he tried to rise he could
,.,.
My leg is broken" he said, "and am
Dad hurried on my inside. You must now
to me bring help, for am as you were"
Yes, yes" answered the girl. ''I will
go. But how can you stay alone? 1t will
be more than an hour before I can get
anybody here who can carry you to the
house.
Zach! That is bad" said the professor.
"But will do as I can best. If you will
look my knapsack in and give me the little
flask there, 1 can wait, but be not longer
as you can help"
81 will be as quick as I can," said the
girl after she had brought the knapsack to
him and given him a drink.
TWAS a long hour for the poor professor,
and before it was over he had tainted, de-
Snite his flask go that whep Tohp RaScor