The Rover Boys in the Jungle | Page 6

contestant did the
best to make his kite mount higher. In the meantime the wind kept
increasing in violence, making each kite pull harder than ever.
"It's a dandy for flying," panted Tom, who was holding his kite with all
the strength he possessed. "Something must give way soon," and
something did give way. It was the string he was holding, and as it
snapped he went over on his back in such a comical fashion that all,
even to the girls, had to laugh.
"Torn! Tom! What a sight!" burst out Nellie Laning. "You should have
brought a stronger cord."
"If I had I'd a-gone up in the clouds," answered Tom ruefully. "That's
the last of that kite, I suppose; if I -"
"The string has caught on Sam's kite!" interrupted Grace Laning. "Oh,
my! See both of them going up!"
"Now you can win, Sam!" laughed Dora. "Fred, your flying is nowhere
now."
"He didn't calculate to fly one kite against two," answered Fred. "Hold
on, Sam, where are you going? The cliff is over in that direction!" he
yelled suddenly.
"I -- I know it!" came back the alarming answer. "But I can't stop
myself!"
"He can't stop himself!" repeated Dora.
"Oh, stop him somebody, before he goes over the cliff!"
"Let go of the line!" shouted Dick. "Don't go any closer to the cliff!"
"I -- I can't let go! The line is fast around my wrist!" gasped poor Sam.

"Oh, dear, it's cutting me like a knife!"
"He's in a mess," came from Frank. "If he isn't careful he'll go over the
cliff, as sure as he's born!"
"Throw yourself down!" went on Dick, and, leaving his kite in Hans
Mueller's care, he ran after his brother.
By this time Sam had gained a few bushes which grew but a dozen feet
away from the edge of the cliff, that at this point was nearly forty feet
in height. With his right hand held a painful prisoner, he clutched at the
bushes with his left.
"I've got the bushes, but I can't hold on long!" he panted, as Dick came
close. "Help me, quick!"
Scarcely had the words left his mouth when the bushes came up by the
roots and poor Sam fell over on his side. Then came another strong puff
of wind, and he was dragged to the very edge of the rocky ledge!
"I'm going!" he screamed, when, making a mighty leap, Dick caught
him by the foot.
"Catch the rock -- anything!" cried the older brother. "If you don't
you'll be killed!"
"Save me!" was all poor Sam could say. "Oh, Dick, don't let me go
over!"
"I'll do my best, Sam," was Dick's answer, and he held on like grim
death.
By this time half a dozen boys were running to the scene. Dora
Stanhope followed, and as she came up she pulled a tiny penknife from
her pocket.
"Can't I cut the line with this?" she asked, timidly, as she pushed her
way to Dick's side.

"Yes, Yes; cut it!" moaned Sam. "Oh, my wrist is almost cut in two!"
Stooping low, Dora sawed away at the kite line, which was as taut as a
string on a bass fiddle. Suddenly there was a loud snap and the cord
parted. Sam and Dick fell back from the edge of the cliff, while the
entangled kites soared away for parts unknown.
"Thank Heaven you cut the line, Dora!" said Dick, who was the first to
recover from the excitement of the situation. He saw that Dom was
trembling like a leaf, and he hastened to her support, but she pushed
him away and pointed to Sam.
"Don't mind me -- I am all right, Dick," she said. "Go care for poor
Sam. See how his wrist is bleeding! Oh, how dreadful!"
"Here is my handkerchief; he had better bind it up with that," said
Grace Laning, as she offered the article.
"We'll wash the wound first," put in Frank, and raced off for some
water. Soon he returned with his stiff hat full, and the cut on Sam's
wrist was tenderly washed by the Laning girls, who then bound it up
with the skill of a hospital surgeon.
The kite-flying continued for the balance of the afternoon. But Sam and
Dick had had enough of it, and, along with Tom, they took a stroll
along the lake front with Dora Stanhope and Grace and Nellie. Of
course both boys and girls talked a whole lot of nonsense, yet all
enjoyed the walk very much.
"This is the spot where they abducted me," shivered Dora, as they came
to the old boathouse. "Oh, what a dreadful time that was, to be sure!"
"I don't believe our enemies will bother you any more, Dora,"