The rope ascended; one more last pull, and--Nejib was saved! The shock and pain had exhausted his strength, and he fell fainting on the grass. Mihran hodja hastened to take off the rope; he examined it carefully and then threw it down to Archag, who in a few moments gave the signal, and again the boys began pulling. Three-quarters of the ascent had been accomplished, when the rope began to split. "Destowe, destowe (take care)!" all the boys cried out together, and Archag had just time to save himself by clinging to a projecting angle of rock. He discarded the rope, now useless, and set himself to climb up the narrow cleft in the cliff that rose sheer before him. By dint of fitting his feet to the rough surface of the rock, and gripping where he might with his hands, he managed to reach the top, but not without many a bruise. His companions received him in their arms, and gave him a regular ovation. Nejib had come out of his swoon, and as he looked at Archag, his eyes filled with tears. "Avf-edersin (forgive me)," he said, under his breath. "Forgive you for what?" "For pushing you that day when you were looking at Professor Missirian's collection." "Was it you?" "Yes. Thanks to your blundering, I was punished for reading 'The Arabian Nights.' I thought you did it on purpose, out of spite--Stay still; I know now that wasn't true," (Archag had started to go away) "I was furious, and I was bound I would pay you back. But I haven't had a moment's peace since. You are so good, so generous; do say you forgive me." Archag held out his hand in silence, and Nejib clasped it with both his own. Masters and pupils alike watched this scene with astonishment. "Nejib, I can't say I congratulate you on your behavior," cried Monsieur Bernier. "I wouldn't have believed it of you." "Nor I, nor I," murmured the others. "Let him alone," said Mihran hodja. "Reproaches do no good." The boys broke off some pine boughs and made a litter for Nejib, but the descent was very difficult, for the boy was suffering severely, and every jolt drew from him a groan of pain. At Ibrahamli, the village sorcerer massaged his foot, and dressed his wounds according to all the rules of the profession. The next morning he was put on a horse, and the whole company set out on the return trip to Aintab. The president and professors were indignant when they learned of Nejib's ill-conduct. Dr. Mills imposed a punishment of three days on bounds, and made him ask pardon of Archag publicly. CHAPTER XII AN EXPULSION FROM COLLEGE After the excursion to Sof, Archag became the hero of the college. The boys tried in kind ways to make him forget how unfriendly they had been to him, and, naturally enough, vented their ill-humor upon Nejib. But Archag and Garabed took his part; they made him join in their walks and games, and the other boys, seeing the attitude of these two toward the one who had wronged them, gradually withdrew the ban of ostracism which they had laid upon him.