168 THE SILVER FOX 



vortex round death, yet it was obvious that 

 even in that extremity she had not lost her 

 presence of mind. Maria dropped on her 

 knees, and twining her left arm round a 

 strong stem, stretched down her muscular 

 right hand. Lady Susan could not let go 

 and grasp it, and Maria caught her by the 

 wrist and drew her slowly upward. There 

 was a struggle, and a tremendous strain on 

 the arms ; both women kept steady and firm, 

 and Lady Susan got her knee over the edge 

 and fell forward on to Maria's shoulder. 

 Her hat dangled by its guard, her habit 

 sleeve had burst away from the shoulder, 

 her patent-leather boots were cut and 

 scraped by the crevices in which they had 

 searched to find a footing; she drew hard 

 breaths in the efi"ort to recover herself. 



** Is the horse killed ? " she said hoarsely, 

 scrambling on to her feet and looking down 

 through the naked branches that fringed the 

 long cleft. 



Even the first glance could certify that 

 Solomon had met his death in an instant. 



