Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-09-04
CHAPTER X.
The Rescue,

nc NehCle.
The arms of the men were brawny
And strong: Green was Hight In weight
and 1.-THE as n tiger: the rope ran out
sioly and steadily. slid out and down
over the sharp edge OF the chssm
where the grasses were long and hid
the sharp cut Into emptiness. making
n treacherous foothold. Suddenly the
rope stopped running. grew slack. and
Green's voice came up In shout
Thus silence reigned again save for
the rain and wind.
Moments passed: to the slrl stand
ing back motionless the moments
seemed like hours. Her eyes did not
move f!om the edge where the rope
ran over. Green called again, and
5 tses. began TO pull the rope.
Dolores eyes widened as she
watched them; her lips were apart.
flush on ter cheeks. The mist grew
more thIci ard derse. stealing up and
up until Il reached the edge OF the
chasm. u stole about the men at
work ut the rope and cnyeloped them
silently: through its gray folds they
looked like specters at work for all
fttrnsty. WIN hNN sAsN1s fsHAHs $50
rope IN and In.
The rope came up steadily and slow
and sure. then Green spoke from Jus,
below the surface.
stop: some of yoa give me a hand
here. Careful. He Is lnscnsiblc."
They obeyed him without word. A
terror was on Dolores face; she did
not move: her fingers were twisted
tightly together: her lips were com
prcAsed In straight red line.
The men were slow and careful: !,
was no light thing to lean over the
edge of the chasm: the trcacherous
edge hidden in scdge might give way
at any moment, but the hands OF the
men we 9 slow and steady: they
obcycd Green's commands Ms though
they were powericss OF sclsihousht.
They had Johnson rp on arm ground
aud Green after him: they laid the
insensIhlc man on the ground with
coats for piiiows: they forced some
cider between his teeth and chaf.d
his brawny hands tcnderiy ms wo'
man would. Two CT them cut down n
couple of sapiinss aud Topped on the
these they bound together with two
cross pieces: they crossed the rope
In a network back and forth. No
words were uttered: they worked In
silence with n rrimncss that was al
most terrible to the watching Girl.
The rain WAS falling steadily row.
and drippcd through the branches.
failing on Johnsons face. His hands
moved rropinsiy moment; he
opened his eyes and looked vacantly
about him: they were hollow eyes and
hungry: lie recognized no one. Dolo-
res came up shyiy. offering no word
Of sympathy. and with moan John.
son closed his eyes again.
'wc must get him home as soon as
possible" Green said. Eravciy. his
eyes on the face OF the girl standing
silently beside her father. He has
been without food since the day be-
fore yesterday. He lost his way. and
fell In the night when he was trying
to ind his way hack after hunting the
COW. He has been lying there on that
fcdE. ever since too weak to make
any effort TO save himself thereby
doubtless saylng his life. for the ledge
would stand little notion"
He did not add that Johnson had
broken both Of his legs in the fall.
and doubtless received Internal In.
1urics that must prove serious II not
fatal. Dolores eyes were on his. and
he could not tell the whole of what
might come.
when they had placed Johnson on
che litter as comfortably as possible.
I.odic offered his coat to Dolores in
a short word or two and no change of
face. but the girl shook her head.
without speaking. though she gave
him one OF her rare smiles. and
walked steadily down the path tangled
10 the ,reachcrous bushes. half hidden