This was quickly lowered until the noose dangled below Frank.

“Use one foot to draw it in, my boy.  We want you to get both legs inside the loop, and then gradually let us draw it up under your arms.  It’s all right.  We’re going to have you out of that, so don’t worry!” called the ranchman.

“You can depend on it, Frank isn’t frightened.  If that bush threatens to go, get a quick grip of the rope!  Do you understand, Frank?” called Jerry.

A quick nod of the head told that the one below realized he was as good as drawn up already.  One foot was cautiously withdrawn from its support and the loop caught; then the second also passed inside the circle; after which a tightening of the lariat brought it up to where Mr. Mabie wanted to have it.

“Now here you come, my boy!” he called cheerily.

Frank let go his frenzied clutch, and swung into space; but willing hands quickly drew him up until he stood with his chums.

“Did I get him?” was the first question he asked, at which the stockman laughed heartily and patted him on the back.

“Spoken like a true sportsman, I declare!  How about it, Reddy?” he said.

“There’s his game, sir, lying just at the foot of that old slide.  It was as neat a shot as I ever saw,” declared the young cowboy, pointing.

“Which is the truth, old fellow!” exclaimed Jerry, seizing Frank’s hand and wringing it warmly, without a touch of jealousy, even though his own laurels as the admitted best shot of the club seemed in jeopardy.

“But what a pity we can’t get it!  I hate to think of killing game and leaving it for the wolves,” said Frank.

“Oh, that’s soon remedied.  Reddy will promise to land that sheep here for you in double-quick order, eh?”

Reddy was already fastening one end of his lariat to a projecting stone that resembled a saddle-horn.  This done, he tried it, to make sure that it would hold.  Then he tossed the balance of the rope, loop and all, over the edge.

“Does it reach down?” asked Mr. Mabie.

“Just gets there, and no more,” replied Will, craning his neck to see.

Reddy flung himself over in what struck Will as a most reckless fashion; but he discovered in time that these free riders of the ranches do everything in that nervous manner.  It is a country where men quickly learn that often their lives depend on their ability to act promptly and like a flash.

“He’s down already,” announced Will, half a minute later.

And it was not ten minutes before they saw the cowboy coming back again.  He had Frank’s first mountain sheep upon his back, and though the way was rough he jumped from stone to stone with surprising agility for one who spent so much time in the saddle.

In due time the journey was resumed.

“How much further do we go?” asked Will, as he followed behind the guide, Reddy.

“Here’s the top of the ridge.  Now you can see the other valley, and the noise you hear is made by a cataract in the river.  We camp just below that.  Fishing is good there, and I guess you’ll like it,” was the reply.