He ended with a reassuring laugh, which was meant to encourage Frank. In a moment the rope was lowered, and the end dangled close by the boy. "Catch hold!" cried the sheriff. Frank did so, first getting a firm hold with one hand, and then with the other. By the time he had hold of the lariat Bart was ready to pull with Long. "All right!" shouted Frank. "Lift away, up there." They did so, carefully lifting him over the edge of the ledge, so his hold would not be broken, and he was drawn safely to the solid ground. Some boys would have been completely overcome and unmanned by such a close call, but such was not the case with Frank. The moment all peril was past for him, he exclaimed: "Save the horse!" "Don't know as we can," said the sheriff, breathing heavily. "We'll try it. If we can get the beast up without strangling it we'll be dead lucky." Long was skillful with the lariat, and he dropped the noose over the horse's head with a wide sweep. He did not draw it tight till the time came, and that was when every man and boy were ready to lift to the extent of their strength. "Heave!" shouted Big Gabe, in a stentorian tone. After a desperate struggle they dragged the horse up over the brink, but the unfortunate creature was more dead than alive, and nearly an hour passed before it recovered. CHAPTER XLIV. A GIRL'S MAD LEAP. By nightfall they were encamped--or bivouacked--in a sheltered pocket, close by a clear bubbling spring. A fire was lighted, and, having eaten supper, they sat around and talked over the journey and adventures of the day. The men smoked. The horses fed on some tender grass near at hand. Bart said: "Do you know, Frank, I never touched a cigarette since you induced me to swear off at Fardale?" "I am glad to hear that," said Frank. "There is nothing more hurtful than cigarettes used to excess, and one who smokes them regularly is almost certain to use them to excess, after a time." "When you left Fardale I told you I feared I might fall back into my old ways--might become reckless and dissipated as I was before you gave me a helping hand and pulled me out. You remember it?" "Yes." "And do you remember that you said you were confident I would not go back--that you felt sure I had stamina of character enough not to take up with my old associates?" "Yes." "Well, Frank, by saying so you saved me. Whenever I have been tempted to do a mean thing, or to take up with any of the old gang, I have always thought of your words, and knowing you had faith in me has given me strength to resist." "I am glad of it, old fellow. For all that we were enemies to begin with at Fardale, I found you had good stuff in you, and so I stood by you when others were against you."