CLIMBING A ROCK IN FLAT ISLAND. 225 



limpets, festooned with the tendrils of dark colored sea weed, 

 and dripping with the spray which ever and anon was thrown 

 over it by the rising waves, it stood in insurmountable majesty 

 before us. An ascent at this place being impossible, we passed 

 onwards along the slippery edge of the weed-tangled platform, 

 in search of some more accessible spot, nor was it long till we 

 discovered a narrow zig-zag fissure, scarcely wide enough to 

 admit the foot, but presenting at various distances, as if the rock 

 had been rent asunder by some convulsion of nature, small pro- 

 jecting notches which might be grasped by the hand. To trust 

 mainly to the strength of our arms, and swing ourselves upwards 

 by means of these little angles, seemed Our only expedient, so, 

 without much deliberation, we commenced the ascent, I taking 

 the lead, and Wolfe following close behind. It was an arduous 

 undertaking, and as I have often since thought, a very fool-hardy 

 one. Only now and then, and at considerable distances, could 

 we find an opportunity of supporting ourselves by our feet, so 

 that for the most part we had to trust our weight entirely to our 

 hands, which were not a little lacerated by the sharp edges of the 

 rock we were obliged to clasp. Nor dared we allow ourselves a 

 moment's breathing time, during our perilous progress ; for so 

 loosely were the little knotches on which we depended connected 

 with the main rock, that had we ventured to hang on them for an 

 instant, they would probably have been detached by our weight, 

 and ourselves precipitated to the bottom. Totally out of breath, 

 with bleeding hands and aching arms, it was not without consi- 

 derable delight that, after an ascent of about fifty feet, my eyes 

 came on a level with a small platform of between two and three 

 feet square, indented, as it were, into the face of the rock. Upon 

 this, with a single effort, I threw myself, enjoying the prospect of 

 a few minutes' rest, but scarcely was I securely balanced on my 

 precarious prop, when I saw Wolfe about a foot lower, hanging 

 with both hands to a small angular knotch, that seemed shaking 

 in its infirm socket, as if about to separate from the parent rock. 

 A single reach of his arm would have placed him on the enviable 

 platform on which I stood. " For God's sake, Mr. Lascelles," 

 he cried, looking up with a face of consternation, "for God's 

 sake, go on. Sir, or I shall be precipitated to the bottom." *' I 

 cannot stir an inch further, at present," I replied, " quick, catch 

 at my foot, and sway yourself up, here is room enough for us 

 both.'^ Scarcely had I uttered these words, when the knotch on 

 which my poor comrade hung, broke off, fell with a rumbling 

 VOL. VI. — 1835. EE 



