"Now don't open your eyes," he said, "and please do what I tell you."
"I am in your hands," she replied.
"You will be directly, I hope," he answered, with a laugh, "but in the meanwhile move slowly in this direction."
"That's right," he continued, a little later. "Come on, I will tell you when to stop."
She sidled on steadily inch by inch, while he watched her with fast-beating heart.
"That will do," he said at length. "Now reach out your left hand as far as possible."
She obeyed at once, and a moment later he held it in his own firm grasp.
The colour came into her face when she felt his fingers close round hers, and her heart beat perceptibly faster.
"So far, so good," he said, cheerily. "Now the next step is not with your hand, but with your foot. It will be a very long stride for you, but you've got to do it. Don't open your eyes. And in the first place lean as far as you dare in this direction."