See how varied is the assistance which he renders! Now he is before, with outstretched hand raising him up; and now behind, doing the same office, while the feeble man clings to some branch, or to some projecting point of rock. Now you see him gently supporting his tottering steps, as he leads him slowly along a narrow path on the edge of a precipice, where, if he but stumble, he is lost. The effort is now but a slight one; but it requires caution, firmness, and skill. And now there is needed a strong, almost an Herculean effort. He must raise him to the top of a rock just large enough to stand upon, and there let him rest a moment, so that he may step carefully to another rock which offers a secure resting-place. He pauses before making the effort, to calculate with precision the amount of force needed. He sees that if he come short of raising him to the right spot even an inch, his feet may slip, and he is gone. And on the other hand, if he use too much force, he may throw him too far, and then he will plunge over beyond. His courage almost fails him, as he sees the fearful issues—the issues of life and death, that hang on that one effort. But it must be made. Uttering the cheerful words of hope in his companion’s ear, with his whole frame roused to its utmost tension, he makes the attempt. The poor man’s feet just reach a jutting edge of the rock, while he catches with his fingers upon another projection, and there he hangs. His strength is almost exhausted; but he knows that if he lets go he is lost. His friend presses his feet fast to the rock, and tells him to hold on. Then finding some foothold by which he can raise himself a little higher, he lifts his sick companion gently to the summit. There he remains a few moments, trembling, and almost poised upon a point, fearing to move, or even to look down from that giddy height, lest he should slip off. But soon, with the little rest that he gets in this perilous situation, and encouraged by the firm and cheerful voice of his friend, he steps to the next rock, where a broad and sure foothold enables him to pause and recover his little strength, which was well-nigh exhausted by his anxiety and his exertions.