Blanche put into his hand, and bound
it gently but firmly over her eyes, arranging it as well as he could in
the darkness in such a manner as to make the blinding perfectly
effectual.

He then led her cautiously forward a step or two until he felt with his
outstretched foot the edge of the precipice, when, bidding her stand
perfectly still and to cling firmly to the irregular surface of the
rock, he once more lighted the short remaining end of paper, utilising
its brief existence to note well the perilous path they had to tread.

"Now, sweetheart," he said briskly, "do you feel better, and fit to go
on?"

"Oh, yes," was the reply, in a tone so bright and cheerful that Lance
felt intensely relieved; and he forthwith set about the difficult task
of getting his companion past the narrow ledge without further delay.

By the last expiring gleam of his short-lived taper, Lance took one more
rapid glance at the terrible pass, and then, as the thick darkness once
more closed round them, he said--

"Now, dear, you must be very cautious how you move. Keep close against
the rock, and take a firm hold of any projections you can find. Do not
move until you have a firm hold with both hands, nor without telling me
of your intention, as I shall keep close to you and give you the support
of my arm. And do not loose your hold of the rock with one hand until
you have secured a firm grip with the other. Now, have you a tight
hold? Then move gently along, side wise; and keep _close_ to the rock."

The dreadful journey was begun. Slowly and cautiously the pair groped
their uncertain way along that narrow ledge, each pausing until the
other was ready to proceed; and Lance with difficulty restrained a
shudder as once during the passage he felt that the heel of his boot
actually projected over the awful ledge. A dozen times he felt outwards
with his foot to ascertain whether the chasm was passed or not, and at
last, with an involuntary sigh of ineffable relief he found that there
was solid ground beyond him as far as his foot could reach.

"Now stand quite still for a moment, Blanche," he said. "I am about to
light another match."

He did so, and found that they had indeed achieved the awful passage--
with some six inches to spare. At his very feet still yawned the hungry
gulf, but they were beyond it, thank God, and once more in comparative
safety. Hastily seizing his companion's hand, he hurried her far enough
away from the