Passing through the birch grove one day , he came up on several of the boys , who were amusing themselves by climbing up the trees and swinging down again , as they slender elastic stems bent till their tops touched the ground . Dan paused a minute to watch the fun , without offering to join in it , and as he stood there Jack took his turn . He had unfortunately chosen too large a tree ; for when he swung off , it only bent a little way , and left him hanging at a dangerous height . `` Go back ; you ca n't do it ! '' called Ned from below . Jack tried , but the twigs slipped from his hands , and he could not get his legs round the trunk . He kicked , and squirmed , and clutched in vain , then gave it up , and hung breathless , saying helplessly , `` Catch me ! help me ! I must drop ! '' `` You 'll be killed if you do , '' cried Ned , frightened out of his wits . `` Hold on ! '' shouted Dan ; and up the tree he went , crashing his way along till he nearly reached Jack , whose face looked up at him , full of fear and hope . `` You 'll both come down , '' said Ned , dancing with excitement on the slope underneath , while Nat held out his arms , in the wild hope of breaking the fall . `` That 's what I want ; stand from under , '' answered Dan , coolly ; and , as he spoke , his added weight bent the tree many feet nearer the earth . Jack dropped safely ; but the birch , lightened of half its load , flew up again so suddenly , that Dan , in the act of swinging round to drop feet foremost , lost his hold and fell heavily . `` I 'm not hurt , all right in a minute , '' he said , sitting up , a little pale and dizzy , as the boys gathered round him , full of admiration and alarm . `` You 're a trump , Dan , and I 'm ever so much obliged to you , '' cried Jack , gratefully . `` It was n't any thing , '' muttered Dan , rising slowly . `` I say it was , and I 'll shake hands with you , though you are , '' Ned checked the unlucky word on his tongue , and held out his hand , feeling that it was a handsome thing on his part . `` But I wo n't shake hands with a sneak ; '' and Dan turned his back with a look of scorn , that caused Ned to remember the brook , and retire with undignified haste .
`` Come home , old chap ; I 'll give you a lift ; '' and Nat walked away with him leaving the others to talk over the feat together , to wonder when XXXXX would `` come round , '' and to wish one and all that Tommy 's `` confounded money had been in Jericho before it made such a fuss . ''
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