CHAPTER XII The Man From Above
There are times when circumstances act in one's favor with surprisingquickness.
Howard Brent had scarcely a moment of wondering whether it were humanlypossible that he could trust himself to crawl downward over the crumblingrock and reach his companions. By this method he might rescue Peggy, butnot Ralph. He could not, of course, pull them both up together, themoment Peggy released her hold Ralph had no chance.
Howard simply did not consider the saving of Ralph first.
But he did turn his head to look up the trail for help, and he did callout as loudly as possible. They were not so far down, that some one ofthe Camp Fire party might not hear him. The chance was a slim one, yetevery desperate chance must be taken.
Howard was greatly surprised when his call was immediately answered.
The next instant there appeared above him the wise grey head of a smallburro, with a long-legged man seated on his back. But, best of all, theburro had a rope thrown carelessly about his neck.
The man and the burro did look as if they represented a special act ofProvidence, but the reason for their sudden appearance was a very simpleone indeed.
Mrs. Burton had not known of Peggy's and Ralph's intention to go onfarther down the trail, until five or ten minutes after theirdisappearance with Howard Brent, when Bettina came to her and mentionedthe fact. Mrs. Burton had been occupied with other things and, after thesafe arrival of the Camp Fire party on this plateau of rock where theywere to spend the day, had gone away from the others and laid down for afew minutes.
Indeed, her eyes were closed and she was half asleep when Bettina foundher. But Bettina was too uneasy not to confide in her at once.
Mrs. Burton immediately shared Bettina's anxiety. If Mrs. Webster hadgiven her consent, it was because she knew nothing of the dangers of therocky trails and Peggy had clouded her judgment.
But she did not go to her sister. It was Mrs. Burton's idea, as it hadalways been Polly O'Neill's, that Mollie should be spared wheneverpossible. So she found one of their guides and sent him on down the trailafter the wanderers as quickly as he could be started.
The burro was to save Peggy the fatigue and danger of the ascent, and therope was merely a safeguard in case one of the two young men should slip.
The guide was down by Howard Brent and had his rope coiled like a lassoin an incredibly short time. He had been a ranchman and the art wasentirely familiar to him.
A moment later it was safely around Ralph's body and Peggy was able tolet go, while the two men drew Ralph up to safety.
It was curious but it seemed more difficult for Peggy to hold on afterher burden had been taken from her, than it had been before. It happensthis way in life with other burdens. She was so stiff and so tired thather own volition was gone.
But, something, a something that is oftentimes stronger than one'swill--an inherited instinct--made her continue her clutch on the smalltree.
It was only a brief time. For with the rope now about his own waist,Howard Brent soon after crawled down to her. Holding her in one arm heclimbed with the other using his feet as well and assisted by the guidefrom above.
The two men had simply laid Ralph aside in a crevice of rock above thetrail, as soon as his rescue had been effected.
He was still unconscious when Peggy reached safety.
She did not feel frightened about herself--only incredibly tired. ButRalph's face frightened her.
Peggy had never seen any one unconscious before--the whiteness and thedrawn look of the nose and mouth were startling.
She went over to him at once.
"Ralph," she said, shaking him gently.
Then she turned to Howard Brent.
"Is Ralph dead?" she asked quietly, yet with a queer note in her voice.
Howard stared at her.
"Oh, Lord, no," he returned, not with much show of feeling. "There isnothing the matter with Ralph except that he bumped his head as he wentover. He will be all right in a little while. He was a good deal of achump to have gone so near the edge of the cliff and more of a chump tohave dragged you along with him."
Peggy did not answer. She knew, of course, that Ralph had not intendedany harm should befall her, but it was not worth while arguing the pointthen.
Instead, she managed to seat herself in a half upright position, but soshe could get Ralph's head in her lap.
"Ralph," she kept repeating over and over in a gentle, penetrating voice.She believed her voice would somehow reach her companion's consciousness.She had the control and the sense of having braced herself to meet anemergency, which was characteristic of Peggy Webster. But there was nodoubting the depth of her feeling; nor of how much affection she felt forher friend.
It was there in her face, as well, and Ralph saw it when he first openedhis eyes. Howard Brent was also a witness. If Ralph had wished proof thathe had won his wager and had made Peggy Webster care for him by a fewweeks of careless attention, his proof was undeniable.
Yet Ralph had no thought except gratitude and admiration. Peggy Websterwas the clearest-eyed, the bravest, and the truest girl he had ever knownin his life. Ralph remembered his own instinctive clutch after her andwould have given five years of his life to wipe out the memory.
But Peggy was perfectly sensible and matter of fact by this time.
In her pocket she had the usual first aid Camp Fire necessities. Ralph'shead was only cut and not deeply, as far as one could see. She merelybandaged it until they could reach the flat table-land above. There theywould find water and whatever else was required.
In spite of his protest Ralph was made to ride the burro, with the guideahead leading them both, and Howard assisted Peggy.
It was a sorry little party and not impressive. If Peggy had not been sotired she would have been amused at the spectacle they presented, afteronly about a half an hour's exploration of the Grand Canyon.
But she really did wish to make as light of the situation as possible.
"Please don't say a great deal about how stupid Ralph and I were, Mr.Brent. That is, let us agree not to tell any more than we positivelymust. If mother and my aunt learn that I pitched over a cliff they willbe so wretched over what might have happened to me--and did not--that itwill spoil their pleasure, and perhaps everybody's. I am awfully gratefulto you," she ended shyly; "of course, we would both have come to griefwithout you."
"No; the guide would have looked after you, and I was of no value withouthim," Howard Brent returned brusquely. He was in a bad temper and,although he did not wish to vent it upon Peggy, he found it almostimpossible to conceal his anger.
He never had thought much of Ralph Marshall and he thought considerablyless of him at present. That a girl like Peggy Webster should waste heraffection upon him was annoying under any circumstances. But that sheshould do so under the particular conditions which he had heard beingarranged by Ralph and Terry Benton was unendurable.
Yet Howard had not altogether made up his mind. He thought Peggy shouldbe told of their wager and yet had not finally decided to tell herhimself.
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her at once, but here was ofcourse neither the time nor the place. She was such a plucky littleperson and looked so used up, although insisting that she was perfectlyfit. Howard had suggested that he carry her a part of the way, but Peggyhad only laughed at him.
Nevertheless, the young man felt perfectly capable of doing it and heprobably was. He was four or five years older than Peggy Webster andreally had believed, ever since their first meeting, that he would likeher for a friend. He had no sister of his own, but if he had had one,Howard Brent felt that he would have been proud to have her like Peggy.
In the last ten days he had been made wretchedly uncomfortable by herinnocent straightforwardness in accepting Ralph Marshall's attentions.Therefore, as he considered the confession must be made, he might as wellmeet the situation. Later in the day when Peggy had res
ted, Howard atlength concluded he must tell her himself. There was no one else for theunpleasant task.
But during their walk up the trail Howard did but very little talking andPeggy was grateful. She did wish to appear as self-controlled and asindifferent to her experience as she could, before rejoining her motherand friends. Bettina and her aunt might be angry as well as alarmed, forshe should not have insisted upon going down the second trail againstBettina's advice and her aunt's knowledge.
Nevertheless, there was considerable excitement when the threeadventurers returned. And, because of the injury to his head, all dayHoward Brent had to see Ralph being made more or less a hero of by theCamp Fire girls.
Peggy was more exhausted from her experience than she had realized andremained a great part of time quietly seated by her mother.
Mrs. Webster was not entirely comfortable because she had left Billy atcamp with only Marie for a companion. But he had insisted that he did notwish to join the Camp Fire expedition and would not allow even Vera tostay behind with him.
About four o'clock the entire party started back for camp. They wished toarrive in time for an early dinner and Marta Clark had first to be takenhome.
Marta, as well as Peggy Webster, felt that she had not had sosatisfactory a day as she had dreamed of. In the first place, Mrs. Burtonhad been so absorbed in the day's arrangements that she had paid butlittle attention to her outside guests.
Then, Dan Webster had not been so agreeable as Marta expected him to be.Perhaps she had no right to have taken his interest a little for granted.His past kindness must have been due to sympathy caused by her accident,for Dan was undeniably one of the physically strong people to whomweakness made an appeal. Now, as she was a great deal better, she nolonger required his physical assistance. So today he devoted the most ofhis time and attention to Sally Ashton. Sally, declaring that thegrandeur and coldness of the great stone cliffs made her lonely andafraid, had appealed to Dan to be with her whenever he could. So, asMarta had made no such appeal, she was neglected.
However it was arranged for them that Dan should drive Marta home in oneof the small carriages and that Peggy was to accompany them.
By his own request Howard Brent was allowed to make the fourth and to sitby Peggy.
"After dinner, tonight, when you have rested I should like to speak toyou alone a few minutes," Howard asked unexpectedly, just before theirarrival at Sunrise camp. "Mrs. Burton said I might stay on untilbedtime."