I gripped the rope and let myself down, not using the loops to descend, but just sliding with hands and knees, and allowing the knots to slacken my pace. Half-way down, I will confess, the eerie feeling of physical suspense was horrible. One hung so in mid-air! The hawks flapped their wings. But Harold was below; and a woman can always be brave where those she loves--well, just that moment, catching my breath, I knew I loved Harold. I glided down swiftly. The air whizzed. At last, on a narrow shelf of rock, I leant over him. He seized my hand. 'I knew you would come!' he cried. 'I felt sure you would find out. Though, _how_ you found out, Heaven only knows, you clever, brave little woman!' 'Are you terribly hurt?' I asked, bending close. His clothes were torn. 'I hardly know. I can't move. It may only be bruises.' 'Can you climb by these nooses with my help?' He shook his head. 'Oh, no. I couldn't climb at all. I must be lifted, somehow. You had better go back to Lungern and bring men to help you.' 'And leave you here alone! Never, Harold; never!' 'Then what can we do?' I reflected a moment. 'Lend me your pencil,' I said. He pulled it out--his arms were almost unhurt, fortunately. I scribbled a line to Elsie. 'Tie my plaid to the rope and let it down.' Then I waved to her to pull up again. I was half surprised to find she obeyed the signal, for she crouched there, white-faced and open-mouthed, watching; but I have often observed that women are almost always brave in the great emergencies. She pinned on the plaid and let it down with commendable quickness. I doubled it, and tied firm knots in the four corners, so as to make it into a sort of basket; then I fastened it at each corner with a piece of the rope, crossed in the middle, till it looked like one of the cages they use in mills for letting down sacks with. As soon as it was finished, I said, 'Now, just try to crawl into it.' He raised himself on his arms and crawled in with difficulty. His legs dragged after him. I could see he was in great pain. But still, he managed it. I planted my foot in the first noose. 'You must sit still,' I said, breathless. 'I am going back to haul you up.' 'Are you strong enough, Lois?' 'With Elsie to help me, yes. I often stroked a four at Girton.' 'I can trust you,' he answered. It thrilled me that he said so.