Feeling fatigue rush to his head, Steve lets go of the rope while he climbs a cave wall without a safety harness. His climbing companions, 13-year-old Binkley, 17-year-old Pete Foster, and Arch Gooding, discuss what they should do. Gooding, the smartest of the bunch, decides that they should stay put because they cannot do much to save Steve. Arch catches sight of Steve’s sprawled body down below. Binkley calls the others foolish and decides to go save Steve. On the way down, however, Binkley realizes he cannot reach Steve and turns back around to climb up. However, he faces terrible fatigue. He slips down thinking his death is coming, but Pete and Arch pull him up just in time. Binkley tells the others to go find help in the near town while he waits in the dark to watch over Steve. He sits fearfully but believes that something good will come from his loyalty.