452 The Bearded Vulture 
that he had at last ‘‘seen me through,” as the expression has it. 
The idea was intolerable. I asked myself what prevented my 
going on and the reply came quick. ‘ This: if the rope is not 
long enough to take you to the terrace below, you probably won't 
be able to come up again with only two men to haul on you.” 
It must be remembered that at this time I was by no means certain 
that my lowering party was posted as far down the cliff as in 
1906, hence my natural anxiety as to the length of my rope. 
Also, my recent experiences when on a level with the nest pointed 
to the rope being too short. The situation was maddening for 
I realized clearly that in all probability it was a case of now 
or never, so far as my taking the egg of the Bearded Vulture 
was concerned. Then came the remembrance of the long series 
of failures which had attended all my efforts to get this egg, 
extending now well over thirty years. And then I recalled how 
only a quarter of an hour before I had actually had my hand on 
the coveted nest. My assistant had thoughtfully brought down 
with him a too ft. coil of light Alpine Club rope, this would at any 
rate take some of the strain off the lowering party. So making 
it fast to a convenient crag | heaved the coil into space with a 
fervent hope that it might prove long enough to aid me in my 
descent and, if required, in my subsequent ascent. Taking a firm 
hold of the light rope I was lowered 20 ft. to the little green 
ledge alongside the ‘“ artichoke” whence I had a good view of 
the work before me. Immediately below me the cliff descended 
sharply for some 30 ft. or more to the rounded rocky bluff which 
marked where it became vertical and in places overhanging. My 
Alpine rope lay truly down the cliff and disappeared from view 
over the bluff and I knew the nest was no great distance below 
that point. The sight inspired me with fresh determination and 
I gave the signal to lower and slithered away at speed. The 
die was cast and soon I was scraping over the rocky bluff and 
