Polly slid from her saddle and stretched out flat upon the brink to
peer over the edge for a possible sight of the burro. As she did so,
she saw a mass of baggage and burro scramble upright and shake itself
violently. Then a plaintive whinny rose up to welcome the fearful
girls.
"Whoa! Whoa, Choko!" shouted Polly, instantly.
Jumping up, she called to Eleanor: "Choko fell upon a ledge, but
there's a great hole behind him and should he back he will surely fall
in and be lost. I'm going down to lead him out!"
"Oh, Polly, don't risk your precious life for a burro!" screamed
Barbara, hysterically.
"If Noddy can creep down, I'll save Choko without risk to myself,"
declared Polly, climbing in the saddle.
"If Polly goes, I go too!" exclaimed Eleanor, turning her burro to
follow Noddy.
"Don't you dare! Nolla--think of mother grieving for you, and me left
alone in Colorado, helpless!" cried Barbara.
"Now I'm going, anyway! I'd like mother to appreciate me," was
Eleanor's unexpected reply, but Anne caught an undaunted look in the
girl's eyes.
The combined persuasions of Barbara and Anne had no effect on Eleanor,
who, truth to tell, exulted in this daring feat and would not have
missed the thrill for anything. But her burro balked at the point where
Noddy began the descent.
Noddy was making for a place where the ledge met the downward slope of
the mountain-side. The burro felt about for sure footing and then took
a step forward.
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