what a surprise awaited him on top here,
what a welcome--heart-eager gratitude.

She bit her lip, however, upon the impulsive
cry, for she saw two girls, younger
than herself, with a ten-year-old boy, who
had been watching the climber's feat from
a near-by mound, turn and look at her
curiously.

They were evidently acquainted with
the daring usurper of the Devil's Chair.

For, having drawn up his legs until
his knees touched his chin, then raised
himself to a standing position on the
grim stone seat, cautiously turning, his
strong fingers gripping the granite chair-*arms,
when his back was to the precipice
beneath and his face almost touching
the twelve-foot, well-nigh perpendicular
rock which he had to climb, he actually
had the hardihood to wave his hand to
them.

"Now--now comes the 'scratch'!" he
shouted laughingly. "I'm going to hook
on to that 'nick' in the rock, there, just
[[72]]

p071 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p072w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p073

v?