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falls!"

      "Can't do it."

      "Why not?"

      "I'm holdin' ther critter by ther tail, an', burn me, ef yer both won't go to ther bottom ef I leggo!"

      Then the boy realized what had saved him, impossible as it seemed, and he marveled at the astonishing strength of the strange giant who had been sent to Lake Tahoe to die of consumption.

      "But he can't hold out long!" thought the lad. "He must give up in a moment, and then we'll go down to death!"

      It was not a pleasant thought, and still Frank was not terrified. He wondered at his own coolness. He speculated on the length of time they would be falling. Would he be conscious when they struck, or would the fall rob him of his senses?

      He looked down. Far below, ragged points of rocks jutted out from the chasm wall, seeming to beckon to him. They would bruise and tear him, and it seemed that they were awaiting, with impatience, for him to fall.

      He could not see the bottom of the chasm!

      "It is sure death!"

      Without knowing that he did so, he uttered the words aloud.

      "Not ef I kin hold on a little longer, boy."

      The giant had heard him and made reply, much to his surprise, for he had seemed to forget that Blake was holding him from falling.

      Then he marveled more than ever at the strength of the man, for it began to seem that he had been suspended thus many hours. Surely Gabriel Blake possessed supernatural prowess.

      Something like a laugh came from the boy's lips.

      "It is foolish to try to hold on longer," he said, a bit wildly. "Let go, before you, too, are dragged over to death."

      "Hyar, hyar!" called the man from above. "Don't git nutty, boy! I kin hold yer some time yit."

      Still Frank was sure it was all folly; it could only end in one way.

      "I must fall at last!"

      The giant heard these hoarsely muttered words, and he feared the boy would let go.

      And now Bart Hodge and the two men had become aware of Frank's peril, and they were spurring their horses madly forward, having reached the top of the climb.

      The giant saw them coming, and it gave him new strength.

      "Hold fast, down thar, youngster!" Big Gabe shouted to Frank. "Thar's help comin' hot-foot an' hustlin'. We'll hev yer out uv thar in two shakes, brand me deep ef we don't!"

      Still, Frank did not dare to hope. Once or twice it seemed that the horse, wild-eyed and snorting with terror, slipped a bit, and the boy fancied Gabe was losing his grip.

      It was a fearful strain on the giant, but he held fast as if his own life depended on it. The cords stood out on his neck and forehead, and perspiration rolled down his face. He could hear his own heart thumping like a hammer in his breast.

      The sheriff, Sile Jones and Bart Hodge came tearing up to the spot, flung their horses back with a surge at the bit, and leaped to the ground.

      In a moment Jones had leaped to the side of Big Gabe and obtained a hold on the tail of the horse, relieving the giant a bit.

      A lariat dangled from the sheriff's saddle, and this he had freed before he brought his horse to a halt. With it in his hand, he sprang to the ground and leaped toward the brink of the chasm, on which Bart was already kneeling.

      "Hang on, old boy!" breathed the dark-haired lad. "The horse will not fall now. You are all right. We will have you out of that in a moment."

      Frank looked up and saw Bart peering down. The sight of his friend's face gave the imperiled lad new hope.

      "It's all right, if you say so, partner," he said, coolly. "But I don't care how quick you get me out of this."

      Jack Long reached the brink of the chasm, lariat in hand.

      "Say," he cried, "whatever are you trying to do, boy? Think you can slip me this way? Not much!"

      He ended with a reassuring laugh, which was meant to encourage Frank. In a moment the rope was lowered, and the end dangled close by the boy.

      "Catch hold!" cried the sheriff.

      Frank did so, first getting a firm hold with one hand, and then with the other. By the time he had hold of the lariat Bart was ready to pull with Long.

      "All right!" shouted Frank. "Lift away, up there."

      They did so, carefully lifting him over the edge of the ledge, so his hold would not be broken, and he was drawn safely to the solid ground.

      Some boys would have been completely overcome and unmanned by such a close call, but such was not the case with Frank. The moment all peril was past for him, he exclaimed:

      "Save the horse!"

      "Don't know as we can," said the sheriff, breathing heavily. "We'll try it. If we can get the beast up without strangling it we'll be dead lucky."

      Long was skillful with the lariat, and he dropped the noose over the horse's head with a wide sweep. He did not draw it tight till the time came, and that was when every man and boy were ready to lift to the extent of their strength.

      "Heave!" shouted Big Gabe, in a stentorian tone.

      After a desperate struggle they dragged the horse up over the brink, but the unfortunate creature was more dead than alive, and nearly an hour passed before it recovered.

      CHAPTER XLIV.

       A GIRL'S MAD LEAP.

       Table of Contents

      By nightfall they were encamped—or bivouacked—in a sheltered pocket, close by a clear bubbling spring. A fire was lighted, and, having eaten supper, they sat around and talked over the journey and adventures of the day.

      The men smoked. The horses fed on some tender grass near at hand. Bart said:

      "Do you know, Frank, I never touched a cigarette since you induced me to swear off at Fardale?"

      "I am glad to hear that," said Frank. "There is nothing more hurtful than cigarettes used to excess, and one who smokes them regularly is almost certain to use them to excess, after a time."

      "When you left Fardale I told you I feared I might fall back into my old ways—might become reckless and dissipated as I was before you gave me a helping hand and pulled me out. You remember it?"

      "Yes."

      "And do you remember that you said you were confident I would not go back—that you felt sure I had stamina of character enough not to take up with my old associates?"

      "Yes."

      "Well, Frank, by saying so you saved me. Whenever I have been tempted to do a mean thing, or to take up with any of the old gang, I have always thought of your words, and knowing you had faith in me has given me strength to resist."

      "I am glad of it, old fellow. For all that we were enemies to begin with at Fardale, I found you had good stuff in you, and so I stood by you when others were against you."

      "You stood by me when I was falsely accused of a theft, even though I had treated you shamefully, and it was that which made me ashamed and disgusted with myself. I saw you were white clean through, and I resolved to mend my ways if I ever pulled through the scrape I was in."

      "You kept your resolution."

      "With your aid. I did not expect you would accept me for a roommate, after what had happened, but you did. I do not believe I should have been able to remain in Fardale Academy but for that. Now——"

      "Now what?"

      "Well, it may sound like boasting, but you know I am not given to

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