Never had the roar of the falls sounded more terrible to poor Will than when he saw Jerry suspended, as it were, above the great drop.  Once he lost his hold, he must be swept irresistibly over the edge, down to those cruel rocks below.

Will would have foolishly attempted to reach his chum had he chanced to be opposite the place where Jerry hung on with the desperation of despair.  As it was, he could do nothing, which was just as well, for there must only have been two of them given over to the river once he ventured into that mill-race.

“Help!  Oh, help!” he shrieked.

The roar of the cataract must have muffled his call, so that it might just as well have been a whisper.

Just as Will was about to give up in despair, and count Jerry as good as lost, he made a sudden discovery.  Another figure had appeared on the bank, and just at a point opposite the rock to which Jerry clung.

“Reddy!  Save him! save him!” cried Will, wringing his hands.

Then he became mute with suspense.  The cowboy did not recklessly rush into the boiling flood, for he knew only too well that such a course could not help the imperiled one.  Instead, Will saw him whirling his rope about his head with lightning-like haste.

His heart in his eyes, Will continued to stare, holding his very breath.  He saw the coils of rope fly out just as when Reddy was giving his exhibition in camp.  Not far did they have to speed, for Jerry was close to the shore.

“Oh! what luck!  He’s done it!  He’s done it!  Jerry has the rope now, and he is coming in, hand over hand!  Bully! bully! bully!”

Will was so excited that he fairly danced up and down as he shouted these words aloud.  Then, bethinking himself of what a magnificent picture he was losing, he took several steps in the direction of the spot where his camera lay.  Stopping hastily, as his affection for his chum more than counterbalanced his love for an effective scene, he turned around and hurried to join the others.

Jerry was ashore, and wringing the hand of Reddy, when Will arrived.

Regardless of the rescued boy’s wet clothes, Will threw his arms around him.

“Oh! you gave me such a fright, Jerry!  I’m quivering all over!  How lucky Reddy happened to be here, and with his rope, too!” After saying which he turned his attention to the smiling cowboy, and squeezed his hand ardently.

“I sure beat my record that time, boys.  I’ve roped some queer things, but never a feller that was going whoopin’ over a falls.  Don’t know why I slung the old lariat over my arm when I started up here to see what luck Jerry had.  Mighty glad now I did, though.  It’d been purty hard to get him out with only a stick to stretch over.”

Reddy was extremely modest, and only too willingly agreed not to say a word about the mishap and rescue to any of the others; and Will was also bound to secrecy by Jerry.