ISO THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



but that would have been of no avail. My poor 

 brother must have fallen down, down till the block 

 caught the stake with a jerk, which would have 

 fetched me over too, if I had kept my hold ; and 

 down those terrible hundreds of feet we should both 

 have been dashed to inevitable destruction. As it 

 was, the situation was dreadful enough for us both. 

 For some time at least I could hold on, but that was 

 all. It was beyond my strength now to haul in one 

 yard of rope. 



" Haul away, can't you ! " shouted my brother, little 

 thinking what a frightful thing had happened. 



I paused a moment before answering. I was afraid, 

 when he knew the truth, that he might faint or lose 

 his presence of mind at the appalling position in which 

 he was placed. I did him injustice. A braver, cooler 

 spirit never beat in breast of man or boy. " Don't be 

 alarmed," I cried ; " the stake is loosening a little." 

 That is how I put it, to lessen the shock to his nerves. 

 " Keep still a moment," I added, " till I see what can 

 be done." But in truth I could not think what was 

 to be done. I could do no more than keep my place 

 and my hold. 



" Has the stake entirely slipt its hold ? " he cried. 



" I fear so — yes," I replied. " But don't be afraid ; 

 I can easily hold you as you are till we think what 

 can be done." 



He knew the worst then ; we both knew too well 

 the peril of the situation. Had he been only a few 

 feet from the brow of the precipice, he might have got 



