‘But I can’t stand any longer.’
‘Yes, you can. Turn your face to the rock, and lean against it. Don’t look downwards on any account.’
And with these words Alec slipped off his shoes, slung them round his neck, and let himself hang over the cliff. It was an awful moment, and for a second or two the lad’s courage failed him. But it was only for an instant. Setting his teeth hard, he let go, and dropped upon the little shelf beneath. His feet slid; but he clung to the rock and just saved himself from slipping over the precipice. Then, with great exertion, he managed to climb round where the ascent was not quite so steep, and gained the ledge above that on which he had left his companion.
‘All right!’ he cried cheerily, looking over the ledge; and, lying down, he grasped the rock with one hand, and stretched the other downwards as far as he could.
But by this time Laura was almost paralyzed with terror.
‘I can’t—I can’t move!’ she exclaimed in a voice of agony, while her eyes wandered as if seeking the abyss she dreaded.
Alec stretched himself downwards till he could almost touch her hat, while the beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead.
‘Give me your hand at once!’ he shouted imperiously.
Almost mechanically the girl put her hand in his, and the firm clasp immediately made her more calm.
‘Now put your foot on that tuft of grass at your knee. Don’t be afraid. I tell you, you can’t fall, if you do as I bid you!’