For a moment he did not answer. He was anxious not to discourage her, and yet he could see no chance of getting her down alive.
"Can you hold on much longer?" he asked at length.
"Not much," she replied, frankly. "I guess I'm near the end."
"No, don't say that," he said, encouragingly; "keep your heart up a little longer. I must try another tack."
"You cannot reach me?" the question ended almost in a cry.
"Not from this point," he answered, cheerfully. "But we've not got to the end of all things yet," and he began to retrace his steps.
"Are you leaving me?" she called, feebly.
"Never," he answered, and there was something in his tone that made her heart leap wildly.
"I see the path you took," he said a moment later, but though he spoke cheerfully he had no real hope of saving her.