CHAPTER XIII.
KNIGHTLY EMULATION.
“I—I can’t go any farther,” panted Zoe at last, as Wylie half-dragged, half-carried her up the cliff.
“You must. But only a little way. As far as that rock.”
He pointed to the projection she had noticed as affording a possible shelter if she could reach it, and she let him drag her on. Almost unconscious, with failing eyes and swimming brain, she found herself seated on the grass on the farther side of the rock, and realised that he was speaking to her.
“You may rest here for two minutes exactly.”
He turned his back and stood looking down the cliff, and she strove painfully to collect her thoughts and to recover her breath.
“Time’s up,” he said, turning half round. “Go on, and don’t stop till you get to the top. Then run.”
“But you?” she murmured faintly.
“I stay here until you are at the top, of course. The quicker you are, the better for me.”
“I won’t go and leave you.”