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Rh crept up to her side and helped her make it fast about her body.

His signal to the miners that all was well educed prompt response. There was a giddy interval in which the two swung perilously between heaven and earth. Then they stood once more in safety.

Supported by sympathetic hands, the quartet staggered into camp, their story, as condensed by Barcus and breathlessly confirmed by Alan, already winning them enthusiastic champions. And this was well; for in a few moments the rumble of a motor-car sounded beyond the shoulder of the hill.

A startled question elicited the information that the cliff road was only a continuation of the road they had abandoned in the cañon. The approaching car, then, could hardly be any other than that which was freighted with the men who had so long sought the death of Alan and his friend.

Startled into command of his faculties, Alan rose, took quick cognizance of such faculties for defence as the camp afforded, and issued his instructions.

Not far from the point where the road swung from the cliff to thread the camp the hydraulic nozzle was in action, its terrific force of water melting the mountainside away ton by ton. Toward this Barcus ran at top speed, gaining the men in charge of the nozzle just as the car swung round the bend.

Pausing only long enough to make certain that