Part 18 (2/2)

A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY

Bob opened his mouth to call out, and ask what was the matter, that his chum had seized upon him so fiercely. But he held his breath, for something came to pa.s.s just then that made words entirely unnecessary.

A huge rock seemed to slip from its notch up on the side of the cliff, and come cras.h.i.+ng down, loosening others on the way, until finally the rush and roar almost partook of the nature of a small avalanche.

Charley Moi had skipped out in a lively manner, and thus managed to avoid being caught. Bob stared at the pile of broken rock, about which hung a little cloud of dust.

”Wow! that was as close a call as I ever hope to have, Frank!” he exclaimed, with a little quiver to his voice.

Frank himself was a bit white, and his hand trembled as he laid it on that of his chum.

”I just happened to be looking up, and saw it trembling on the break,”

he said. ”Only for that we might have been underneath all that stuff.”

”But did you notice the clever way Charley Moi avoided the deluge?” said Bob, trying to smile, though he found it hard work.

”Yes, it's hard to catch a Chinaman napping, they say,” Frank went on.

”Three times this very day I've heard the thunder of falling rocks, and that was what kept me nervous; so I watched out above. And, Bob, it seemed as though I must have seen that big rock just trembling as it started to leave the face of the cliff.”

”Well, all I can say then, is, that you jumped to the occasion mighty well. Some fellows would have been scared just stiff, and couldn't have thrown out a hand to save a chum. But look here, Frank, you don't imagine that thing was done on purpose, do you?”

Frank looked at his companion, with a wrinkle on his forehead.

”I don't want to think anybody could be so mean and low as to want to hurt boys who'd never done them any harm,” he said; ”but all the same I seem to have an idea that I got a glimpse of a man's arm when that rock started to drop.”

”Whew! you give me a cold chill, Frank,” muttered Bob, gazing helplessly upward toward the spot from which the descending rock had started on its riotous tumble.

”Yes, and I hope I was mistaken,” Frank went on. ”I don't see anything up there now; and perhaps it was only a delusion. All these bright colors affect the eyes, you see. Then, again, it might have been some goat jumping, that started that rock on its downward plunge.”

”But you didn't see any goat, Frank, did you?” Bob asked, anxiously.

”No, I didn't,” admitted the other; ”but then there may be a shelf up there, and any animal on it would be hidden from the eyes of those right below.”

They pa.s.sed on; but more than once Bob craned his neck in the endeavor to look up to that spot, from whence the loose rock had plunged. He could not get it out of his head that foes were hovering about, who thought so little of human life that they would conspire to accomplish a death if possible.

The day pa.s.sed without any further peril confronting them. Charley Moi seemed to fill the bill as a guide, very well. He also knew the different points of interest, and chattered away like a magpie or a monkey as they kept pus.h.i.+ng on.

Bob became curious to know just how the Chinaman could tell about so many things when they were now above the trails used ordinarily by tourists, who gave two or three days to seeing the Grand Canyon, and then rushed away, thinking they had exhausted its wonders, when in fact they had barely seen them.

He put the question to Charley Moi, and when the smiling-faced Chinaman replied, Frank caught his breath.

”That easy, bloss,” said Charley, nodding. ”Happen this way. Long time black me 'gage with sahib, like one know out in Canton. Think have samee big joss some bit up here in canlon. Me to bling grub to certain place evly two month. Him give me list what buy, and put cash in hand. Know can trust Chinaman ebery time. Many time now me do this; so know how make trail up-river, much far past same tourist use. Sabe, Flank, Blob?”

The two boys stared at each other, unable to say a word at first. It was as if the same tremendous thought had come to each.

”Gee whiz! did you get on to that, Frank?” finally e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Bob.

”I sure did,” replied his chum, allowing his pent-up breath full play.

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