Part 11 (1/2)

”Oh! Where?”

”I'll show you Stand clear of the rope, fellows,” ordered Butler

Stepping to the edge of the trail he glanced down at the body of theback to see that the rope was clear, Tad drew his hunting knife and stooped over, his coe as they dared

Butler cut the rope that held the deadback as the unfortunate pack mule's body shot down into the shadowy pass The other boys instinctively drew back Their nerve was not quite equal to standing on the brink to watch the sight With Tad it was different He seereat depths He stood with the toes of his boots over the edge, gazing down until a faint sound from far below told him that the body had struck

”That's all, fellows,” he said, turning back to theet under way at once I will confess that this bracing air is having soed Stacy ”I aet that I have an appetite, but it's awful hard work”

”Too bad about the mule, isn't it?” asked Rector soberly

Tad nodded

”Yes, I should say it is,” agreed Stacy ”There's eight dollars of one down into that hole”

”Never mind He ind-broken and undoubtedly would have played out before we got through the lad it wasn't the other one,”

answered Butler cheerfully ”How is the trail ahead, Professor?”

”I haven't looked”

Bidding them wait until he made an inspection, Tad walked ahead He found the narrow trail filled with dirt and shale rock; there were e!” laughed the boy ”Fate is deter through, even if we have to build a tunnel

Get out the shovel, Ned”

This necessitated undoing the bundle that held all the tools of the outfit, and also entailed the unloading of the pack on the back of the re up with the shovel He uttered a long-drahistle when he saw the blocked trail

”We never shall be able to get through that,” he groaned

”Oh, yes we shall I'll shovel until I am tired, then you take hold and ht,” returned Rector ”I am too keen for ed to We ought to make Chunky take a hand”

”No, I wouldn't risk it Before he had finished he would have lost the shovel overboard It is the only one we have Here goes!”

Tad didrit He shoveled for twenty reat heap of dirt Then he straightened up, his face flushed and perspiring

”Go to it, Ned!”

Ned did, with a will An hour and a half was consu the trail, and, when they finished, both boys ith perspiration

”I think we had better walk for the present,” suggested Tad ”We shall stiffen up if we ride in our present overheated condition”

Ned nodded

”I can't be e inwith extreht notpack mule was a much better animal than the one they had lost He was possessed of better sense, too, and seereat responsibilities rested on his shoulders