Hunting in Many Lands 



the ledge commenced again and seemed to 

 offer our only way upward. I was leading at 

 the time, and, after examining it, turned back 

 to a wider portion of the shelf for consulta- 

 tion. It was not a place one would care to 

 try if there was an alternative. 



We braced the Indian against the wall, and 

 his skillful hand sent the lariat whirling up at 

 a sharp rock above our heads. Time after 

 time the noose settled fairly around it, but 

 found no neck to hold it, and came sliding 

 down. Then, almost before we knew it, the 

 Doctor had run out along the ledge to the 

 shoulder and had started around. For a mo- 

 ment he hung, griping the rounded surface 

 with arms and knees ; then a dangerous wrig- 

 gle and he was on the other side. 



Under his coaching the Indian and I fol- 

 lowed ; but Fox, when half way, lost his head, 

 and barely succeeded in getting back to the 

 starting point. He would not try again. The 

 poor fellow's moccasins had lost some of their 

 nails and he had slipped once or twice that 

 morning, thus destroying the nerve of one 

 who had at other times shown himself a good 

 climber. But of the Indian's companionship 

 for the rest of the day we were now sure. 



232 



