DESCENDING A CLIFF. 341 



rope, either by word of mouth or by a simple 

 prearranged code of signals when the distance is 

 too great to make ourselves heard. 



Two of the nastiest sensations connected with 

 the work are stepping backwards over the brink of 

 a very high cliff into space and spinning slowly 

 round like a piece of meat on a roasting-jack, 

 and watching the sea chase the land and the land 

 chase the sea upon becoming insulated through the 

 crags at the top overhanging. Most people in de- 

 scending a cliff on ropes for the first time prefer, 

 instead of keeping their feet against the rock-face 

 and walking down, to scramble hands and knees 

 against it; but the sharp projections play such 

 havoc with skin and clothing that, if they have 

 nerve enough to persevere in the recreation, they 

 soon try a better way. 



On arriving at a ledge with a nest upon it, my 

 brother allows his body to assume a horizontal 

 position almost at right angles to the line of the 

 cliff, and placing the end of one leg of the tripod 

 in a convenient crevice, and the other two through 

 a belt or piece of rope round his waist, he 

 focusses, and generally after a deal of trouble suc- 

 ceeds in making a picture. That of the young 

 Peregrine Falcons on page 337 was obtained in this 

 way. 



Although not particularly dangerous, if carried 

 out with care and proper tools, cliff work of any 

 kind requires a man with a cool head and a strong 

 athletic frame. Most of the danger, as I have 

 already mentioned, comes from the attendant at 

 the crowbar. On one occasion my brother had 

 a very narrow escape from death owing to the 

 fellow who was lowering him neglecting his work 

 to chat with some companions who stood near. The 



