Part 25 (1/2)

Froe chimney, which was built at the back of the cabin, which was nearest Pepper, the s, and there was an unpleasant odor in the air

”That must be the smokefrom the river the other day,”

concluded Pepper ”I wonder what they are cooking there? I can't say I like the sood place forback as quietly as he had cootten far enough froht, it would not attract the attention of those there, Pepper sounded a call on his bugle

”Perhaps the boys are out looking forthe call froht no response

”Thank goodness! I've got to the end of the woods,” he exclaimed a little later, when he saw an open space not far ahead of hi forward he found himself, not, as he had expected, on the road, but on the top of a high bluff which descended almost perpendicularly for a hundred feet to a roadhich was a welcoe, he saw that there was a broad ledge about ten feet down and that, below this again, the cliff sloped at an acute angle to another narrow ledge, but below this again there was see but the bare side of the cliff

”No use trying to get down that way,” he soliloquized ”I'll just follow along the edge and see where I co, he was about to step back when the earth, where he was standing, gave way, sliding down to the ledge below and carrying hi hi off the dirt hich he was covered ”I wonder what next? No aet back up there, and it don't look inviting below”

It was impossible to climb up the side of the cliff, as it was ale below he noticed that a stunted tree was growing from the rocks

”I wonder if I can catch that tree,” considered Pepper, preparing to slide down to the ledge ”I guess it ain't a question of can, I've just got to do it, and I won't be any worse off there than I aood deal better”

Carefully calculating his distance he let go, sliding down until he reached the ledge where he clutched a tree and held on until he could gain a footing The ledge, which was about a foot in width, ran but a short distance in either direction, but to the right, a few feet beloas another level space, which Pepper judged heuntil he was over the point he let hi he was able to gain another, and so on, slipping at ti, until he finally came out upon a soodness!” he cried as he got up and shook hiot to the botto ot to one but a short distance when he heard a loud ”hello,” and looked up to see a strange boy in the Scout unifor on the rocks not far above hiain; ”who are you?”

”hello!” he replied ”Pepper Blake Who are you?”

”To out a call that went echoing a call ”Say, hold on until I get down there,” he said, addressing Pepper, then cla down until he stood beside the lost boy ”Do you knoe have been hunting all over for you?”

”No,” replied Pepper; ”but I aet down here?” went on Tom

”Tumbled down, mainly,” was the reply ”I took a drop from the top of the hill yonder”

By this tihpoint Patrol, had joined thean to ply the object of their search with questions

”Hold on a ry?”

”Well, I had a bite,” he confessed; ”but that was a good while ago, and I want to get on with this ot there,” said the boy, with a laugh ”I aive it to h of relief; ”I got it to you, anyhow”