Chapter XIV

STOUTHEART

! ... Wedged!"
now it was another word which
jabbered faintly in the dark fissure's mouth!
A girl caught it--or thought she did.

"Wedged!" she echoed wildly. "Caught!
Oh, maybe--maybe--there 's nothing in
there but Ruddy himself!"

"Maybe--so!" Stud panted heavily
while, across an inner, gaping hollow, the
next words took a giant stride to his lips:
"Anyhow--I'm going up!"

"Oh--Studley!" But beyond this one
faint cry, Jessie, stanch little partner,--the
girl behind the lines,--said no more to
hinder him now, as she watched the scout
detach his little lamp from his hatbrim
and hook it on to his khaki breast.

With it glowing there, a headlight for
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p146 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p147w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p148

v?