“‘Ho!’ said John.
“He was staring round the point of rock; and there he stood, unable to get nearer.
“‘Ice under,’ said he, indicating a point below me. ‘More ice. Let down.’
“‘What?’ I cried. ‘Where?’
“‘More ice. Down there,’ said he. ‘Like this. Let down.’
“Then I understood him. Another ledge, such as that upon which I hung, had been formed in the same way, and was adhering to the rock beneath. No doubt there was a pool on the lower side of the point, and just below me, and the current would be no obstacle to the formation of ice. I had looked down from above, and the upper ledge had hidden the lower from me; but 187 John, standing by the gap in the upper, could see it plainly.
“So I had but to let myself down until my feet rested on the new ledge, and this I did, with extreme caution and the expenditure of the last ounce of strength in my arms. Then a glance assured me that the way was clear to the shelving cliff beyond.
“‘You go,’ said John. ‘I go round.’
“‘All right,’ said I. ‘And, say! I wish I’d called you before.’
“‘Ho!’ said he, as he vanished.