there were tears in his eyes, and Bob said hastily: "Well, all's swell that ends swell! How did it happen, anyway, Nod?"
"Oh, I was—was thinking about something and didn't realize I was so close to the edge, I guess. Then Ned called to me and I turned around quick and one foot began to go. I tried to catch hold of that tree there and missed it. Next thing I knew I was sliding down the rock. I guess that trying to catch hold of the tree saved me, because it threw me forward and, instead of falling outward, I went sliding down with my face scraping against the rock. Somehow, just by luck, I got hold of a root for a second. It broke off, but it helped, I guess, for I stopped with my feet on that ledge and my right hand holding on to something above me. I suppose I made sort of a fuss about it down there," he concluded apologetically, "but you don't know how quivery your nerves get, Bob. Seemed like my legs wanted to dance all the time!"
"Son, you certainly had a narrow squeak of it," said Bob solemnly. "Gee, when I saw you go over—"
"Oh, it was perfectly horrible," shuddered
