All three of them stopped
as though paralyzed, for all three had seen. Something struck against
Alan's leg, it was his pistol that still remained fastened to his wrist
by its leather thong. He cocked and lifted it, took aim and fired.
The shot missed, which was not wonderful considering the light and the
platform on which the shooter stood. It missed, but the man, astonished,
for he had never seen or heard such a thing before, stopped his sawing
for a moment, and stared at them. Then as he began again Alan fired once
more, and this time by good fortune the bullet struck the man somewhere
in the body. He fell, and as he fell grasped the nearly separated rope
and hung to it.
"Get hold of the other rope and come on," yelled Alan, and once more
they bounded forward.
"My God! it's going," he yelled again. "Hold fast, Jeekie, hold fast!"
Next instant the rope parted and the man vanished. The bridge tipped
over, and supported by the remaining rope, hung edgeways up. To this
rope the three of them clung desperately, resting their feet upon the
edge of the swaying plank. For a few seconds they remained thus, afraid
to stir, then Jeekie called out:
"Climb on, Major, climb on like one monkey.
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