‘But I can’t stand any longer.’ ‘Yes, you can. Turn your face to the rock, and lean against it. Don’t look downwards on any account.’ And with these words Alec slipped off his shoes, slung them round his neck, and let himself hang over the cliff. It was an awful moment, and for a second or two the lad’s courage failed him. But it was only for an instant. Setting his teeth hard, he let go, and dropped upon the little shelf beneath. His feet slid; but he clung to the rock and just saved himself from slipping over the precipice. Then, with great exertion, he managed to climb round where the ascent was not quite so steep, and gained the ledge above that on which he had left his companion. ‘All right!’ he cried cheerily, looking over the ledge; and, lying down, he grasped the rock with one hand, and stretched the other downwards as far as he could. But by this time Laura was almost paralyzed with terror. ‘I can’t--I can’t move!’ she exclaimed in a voice of agony, while her eyes wandered as if seeking the abyss she dreaded. Alec stretched himself downwards till he could almost touch her hat, while the beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. ‘Give me your hand at once!’ he shouted imperiously. Almost mechanically the girl put her hand in his, and the firm clasp immediately made her more calm. ‘Now put your foot on that tuft of grass at your knee. Don’t be afraid. I tell you, you _can’t_ fall, if you do as I bid you!’ Laura felt as if her arm were being pulled out of its socket; but she obeyed, and in another moment she was in safety. Then came a flood of hysterical tears. ‘Oh, how cruel you are! Why did you ever bring me to this horrible place? Where are the others? What will become of us? Don’t leave me; take me back! Oh, take me back!’ And she clung to her companion as if she were still in danger of her life. Alec soothed and encouraged her as well as he was able; and by hurrying forward they managed in half an hour to overtake the rest of the party. ‘What in the world have you been about?’ cried Semple. ‘We began to think you had lost your way in the mist, or had tumbled over a precipice.’ ‘So we did, very nearly,’ said Laura; and Margaret, seeing that the girl was pale and trembling, went up to her, threw her arms round her, and promised not to leave her till they were safe at Glendhu. ‘You needn’t have taken _her_ into danger,’ growled Semple. ‘I did nothing of the kind,’ said Alec angrily. Then he bit his lip, and vouchsafed no further explanation. Without further accident they reached the foot of the mountain, and half an hour later landed at Glendhu.