And she was not afraid of the silent
man at her side, nor sorry that circumstance had given them this night
and its labors.
Norton knocked out his pipe. Together they got to their feet.
"More careful than ever now," he cautioned her. "Look out for each
step and go slowly. We're there in ten minutes. Ready?"
"Ready," she answered.
CHAPTER VII
IN THE HOME OF CLIFF-DWELLERS
Those remaining ten minutes tried all that there was of endurance in
Virginia Page. Often Norton, bidding her wait a moment, climbed on to
some narrow ledge above her and, drawing the rope steadily through his
hands, gave her what aid he could; often, clinging with hand and foot
she thought breathlessly of the steep fall of cliff which the darkness
hid from her eyes, but which grew ever steeper in her mind as she
struggled on. He had said it would be easier in daylight; she wondered
if after all it would not have been more difficult could she have seen
just what were the chances she was taking at every moment. But more
and more she came to have utter faith in the quiet man going on before
her, and in the piece of rope which stretched taut between them.
"And now," said Norton at last, when once more he had drawn her up to
him and they stood close together upon a narrow ledge, "we've got a
good, safe trail under foot.
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