It was a box-trap, with a drop at the end, too great for any beast, a narrow slide of weathered stone running down, and the rim wall trail.

Old Tom would plainly be compelled to choose one of these directions if he left his cave.
"Frank, you and I will keep to the wall and stop near that scrub pinyon, this side of the hole.

If I rope him, I can use that tree." Then he turned to me: "Are you to be depended on here ?" "I?
What do you want me to do ?" I demanded, and my whole breast seemed to sink in.
"You cut across the head of this slope and take up your position in the slide below the cave, say just by that big stone.

From there you can command the cave, our position and your own.

Now, if it is necessary to kill this lion to save me or Frank, or, of course, yourself, can you be depended upon to kill him ?" I felt a queer sensation around my heart and a strange tightening of the skin upon my face! What a position for me to be placed in! For one instant I shook like a quivering aspen leaf.