Part 41 (1/2)

”There: that is safe,” said Dale. ”Now pick up your ice-axe and hold by the rope with your left hand, so as to ease the strain upon your chest.

Use the ice-axe cautiously, to keep yourself from turning round and from striking against the side. When you get down to the ledge, which must be, from what you say, only just out of sight, you will chip a secure place for your feet if the ice slopes, and, proceeding quite slowly and calmly, make yourself first quite safe. When this is done, unfasten the rope from about you, and make it fast about poor Melchior. Be very particular about the knot, mind. Don't forget what I have taught you.

That knot must not slip in any way, either in tightening round his chest or coming undone.”

”I'll remember,” panted Saxe.

”That's right. Now then, I think that is all, except a final word.

There is no danger for you to dread. The rope is new and strong, and I am at one end.”

”You will not let it slip through your hands?”

Dale smiled at him sadly, and shook his head.

”Ready?” he said.

”Yes.”

”Take off your hat.”

Saxe obeyed, and Dale removed his and knelt down in the snow, Saxe slowly sinking upon his knees.

There was a minute's silence as a brief, heartfelt prayer was offered up for help: and then Dale sprang to his feet with an eager, bright, cheerful look upon his face, and, clapping a hand on either side of Saxe's waist, he lifted him by his belt and set him down again.

”Why, I could draw up half a dozen of you,” he said. ”Now, steady!

Down with you, and slide over. Saxe, you are going to the rescue of a fellow-man.”

The boy set his teeth, his brow furrowed, and there were marks about his eyes, as he saw Dale throw the rope round the handle of the ice-axe, and then over the coil, so that the rings of rope should come off freely.

Then he grasped the hemp firmly with one hand, his ice-axe with the other, and threw back his legs over the edge of the creva.s.se close to where the great piece had broken away. As he did this a piece of snow slipped from under his chest, and went down before him and he was over the side, swinging gently to and fro, as he heard a spattering noise come from below.

”Don't be afraid to talk, Saxe,” said Dale loudly; and every word came distinctly to the boy's ears as the sides of the creva.s.se slowly rose above him, and, in spite of himself, he turned his eyes up with a wild longing toward the deep blue sky.

”I--I can't talk,” he gasped forth.

”All right--steady! Take it coolly, lad.”

”Yes; only don't ask me to talk till I've something to say.”

”No!” shouted Dale, as the sides of the creva.s.ses grew more distant and represented two jagged lines against the sky. ”Splendid rope, Saxe!”

came down to him; ”runs as easily as if it were made of silk. Cut your chest?”

”Not much,” shouted the boy, who for an instant felt a sensation of danger as the rope turned him round; but, remembering his instructions, he touched the wall of clear ice with the point at the end of the axe handle, checked himself, and tried to look downward into the blue transparent light which rose up to meet him, as it seemed.

”Half the rope out, Saxe!” came from above. ”See anything!”

”No.”

”Bit lower down, I suppose. Don't let it turn.”