They hung upon his movements, scarcely breathing at all, as little by little the lad crept along, now swinging by his hands from one ledge to another, now creeping around a sharp bend on hand and knees, now hanging with nothing more secure than thin air underneath him, with face flattened against a rock, resting.  It was a sight to thrill and to make even strong men shiver.

For a long time Tad disappeared from view.  The watchers did not know where he had gone, but Nance explained that he had crept around the opposite side of the butte where he had last been seen, hoping to discover better going there, which Jim was of the opinion he would find.

This proved to be the case when after what seemed an interminable time, the Pony Rider once more appeared, creeping steadily on toward the trail above the broken spot.

This went on for the greater part of two hours.

“He’s safe.  Thank God!” cried the guide.

The Pony Rider Boys whooped.

“You stay here!” directed the guide.  Nance began clambering up the rocky trail to a point from which he would be able to talk to the boy.  Arriving at this spot, Dad waited.  At last Tad appeared, dragging himself along.

“Good boy!  Fine boy!  Dad’s Canyon is proud of you, boy!”

Tad sank down, shaking his head, breathing hard, as the guide could see, even at that distance.  After a time Tad recovered his wind sufficiently to be able to talk.

“What happened to you?” called Dad.

“I got a bump.  I don’t really know what did occur.  The ropes are all washed away, Dad.  I don’t know how I’m going to help you up here now that I have got up.  Aren’t there any vines of which I could make a ladder?”

“Nary a vine that’ll make a seventy-five-foot ladder.”

“Then there is only one thing for me to do.”

“What’s that?”

“Hurry to the rim and get ropes.”

“I reckon you’ll have to do that, kid, if you think you’re able.  Are you much knocked out?”

“I’m all right.  Tell them not to worry.  I may be gone some time, but I shall be back.”

“Good luck!  I wish I could help you.”

“I don’t need help now.  There is no further danger.  Are my friends down there hungry?”

“Stacy Brown is thinking of nibbling rocks.”

Tad laughed, then began climbing up the trail.  Nance, watching him narrowly, saw that the boy was very weary, being scarcely able to drag himself along.  After a time Tad passed out of sight up what was left of Bright Angel Trail.  Nance, with a sigh, turned to begin retracing his steps down to the Pony Rider Boys’ party.

“Well, he made it, didn’t he?” cried Ned.  “We have been watching him all the time.”

“There’s a real man,” answered the guide, with an emphatic nod.  “Pity there aren’t more like him.”

“There is one like him,” spoke up Chunky.