The silence that followed only increased my alarm. I ran on, and Oliver kept close at my heels.
"You are certain Dan called out?" he questioned.
"I am positive."
"Perhaps you only dreamed it?"
"No, I didn't. Besides, if I did, why doesn't he answer my call?"
"He may have wandered out of hearing."
But at this I shook my head.
"Something is wrong—I am sure of it, Oliver. I only hope he hasn't had another tumble. He was throwing stones over this cliff, you know."
"Yes, I know that. Perhaps he went in the opposite direction. Dan! Dan! Where are you?"
The call was repeated a dozen times, but, as before, no answer came back. More alarmed than ever, we talked the matter over a minute, and then decided that I should continue up the cliff while Oliver made a search in the opposite direction.
"And if anything serious is the matter, fire your pistol," said my friend, as we separated.
I had progressed fifty yards further when I reached a turn in the path. Here one cliff was set upon another, the higher projection being fully forty feet above my head. The lower cliff was
