220 DRIVES OUT THE FOXES. CHAP. xi. 



The stone came into collision with my right shoulder, 

 and would in all likelihood have borne me along with 

 it to the bottom of the cliff, had it not been that at 

 that instant I got hold of a short tuft of heath with 

 my mouth, by the aid of which, and by using my 

 fingers as a beast would its claws, I was enabled to 

 regain my former position. 



" It was now quite evident that I would require 

 to descend the cliff by some means or other, but how ? 

 That was a matter for deep consideration. I was 

 standing on the brink of a precipice, had two cun- 

 ning fellows to deal with, had to hold on, at least 

 with one hand, to the rock above in order to main- 

 tain my equilibrium, and had to keep a steady eye 

 on my companions for fear lest they should rush at 

 me and throw me over the cliff. 



" Such being the case, was I not in a pretty fix ? 

 If there were any means of escape, it was from the 

 point near which the foxes were. But how could I 

 dislodge them to get at that point ? The space on 

 which we stood was only from about two feet and a 

 half to one foot broad, and about nine feet long, 

 projecting to some distance over the cliff beneath. 

 To have shot them, and rid myself of their presence 

 in that fashion, was, from my position, utterly im- 

 possible. 



"At length a thought struck me, and with the 

 view of putting it in execution, I laid down my 

 gun close to the back of the shelving, out of harm's 



