"Because anybody else would have made an outcry," replied Martin. "Well, since you are here," said Gabriel, "help me pass this rope around that great root. I very foolishly sent Anselme ahead with the others." "The root will not hold, Monseigneur," said Martin: "the least shock will pull it up, and the boat will be destroyed and we shall be carried away with it." "There is nothing else to be done," rejoined Gabriel; "so let us set about it without more ado." When they had made the boat fast as well as they could, Gabriel said to his squire,-- "Come, up with you!" "After you, Monseigneur; otherwise who will hold the ladder?" "Go up, I tell you!" repeated Gabriel, stamping his foot impatiently. The time was not propitious for argument or formality. Martin-Guerre mounted as far as the excavation in the cliff, and from that elevation held the uprights of the ladder with all his strength while Gabriel ascended in his turn. His foot was on the topmost round when a powerful wave struck the boat, broke the rope, and carried ladder and skiff out to sea. Gabriel would have been lost save for Martin, who, at the risk of dying with him, leaned over the abyss with a motion quicker than thought, and seized his master by the collar of his doublet; then, with all the energy of despair, the brave fellow drew Gabriel up to where he was standing on the rock, as unharmed as himself. "Now you have saved my life, my gallant Martin," said Gabriel. "Yes; but the boat has gone," returned the squire. "Bah! As Anselme says, it is paid for," said Gabriel, with a carelessness assumed to hide his anxiety. "That's very well!" said the cautious Martin-Guerre, shaking his head; "but if your friend doesn't happen to be doing his turn of duty up there, or if the ladder isn't hanging from the tower, or if it breaks under our weight, or if the platform is occupied by a force stronger than ours,--why, then all chance of retreat, all hope of safety, has gone from us with that cursed boat." "Well, so much the better," said Gabriel; "for now we must succeed or die." "So be it!" said Martin, with heroic simplicity. "Come!" Gabriel rejoined; "our companions ought already to be at the foot of the tower, for I can no longer hear them. Be careful about your footing this time, Martin, and never let go with one hand until you have a firm hold with the other." "Never fear; I will do my best," said Martin. They began the perilous ascent; and after the lapse of ten minutes, during which they had overcome innumerable difficulties and dangers, they rejoined their twelve companions, who were anxiously awaiting them, grouped together on the cliff at the foot of the Risbank fort. The third quarter past four had come and gone. Gabriel, with inexpressible joy, spied the rope ladder hanging against the wall.