I was in no humour to argue, with the perilous crossing before me, so I remained silent.
“I said—and not so much as a walking-stick to help us.”
“Yes, Esau, I heard you.”
“Then why don’t you say something?”
“What can I say? Only be plucky and go.”
“There you go again! Oh, it does aggravate me. Now you want me to go off first.”
“No; I’ll go first if you like; but I should like to see you safe over.”
“That’s just what I feel about you. I say—if I fall I shall go head over heels down, like a ball.”
“No, no; you must drop into a sitting position, and slide down.”
“If you can,” grumbled Esau. “Oh dear, I wish I hadn’t come. I’d give all I’ve got to be sitting down in old Dempster’s office, with him bullying me about a mistake in the copying.”