"Nerve? Nerve?" queried Stacy, rousing himself suddenly. "Talk about
nerve! Don't you think it takes nerve for a fellow to start in to jump
off a rock a mile high? Well, I guess it does. Don't you talk to me
about nerve."

"There come the others."

The Professor, the guide and the other boys walked slowly up to them at
this juncture. Chunky expected that Ned would make fun of him. Ned did
nothing of the sort. Both Ned and Walter were solemn and their faces
were drawn. They sighed as if they had just awakened from a deep sleep.

"What do you think of it, Professor?" asked Tad, looking up.

"Words fail me."

"I must have another look," announced Butler.

He walked straight to the edge of the rim, then lying flat on his
stomach, head out over the chasm, he gazed down into the terrible abyss.

Jim Nance nodded approvingly.

"He's going to love it just the same as I do." The old man's heart
warmed toward Tad Butler in that moment, when Tad, all alone, sought a
closer acquaintance with the mystery of the great gash. After a time
the others walked back, Dad taking Chunky by the nape of the neck.
Perhaps it was the method of approach, or else Chunky, having had his
fright, had been cured. At least this time he felt no fear. He was