on the
summit of a stony ridge of granite mountains, one side of which had been
nearly all gnawed away by the sea.

"Don't seem much choice of where to go down," said Vince, after a long
scrutiny to right and left. "Shall we try here?"

"Just as well as anywhere else," said Mike. "Only what is it we are
going to do? If it means creeping down with a rope round one, and then
going over the edge to play chicken at the end of a roasting-jack, I
feel as if I'd rather not."

"It means going carefully down to the edge and looking over first,"
replied Vince. "It may only be a place where we can get down easily
enough."

"Or it may be a place where we can't," said Mike. "All right: I'll go,
if you like."

"No: I'll go first," said Vince. And he drew out his hammer and
crowbar; but a block of granite close by stood up so much like a thick,
blunt post that there seemed to be no need for the crowbar to be driven
in; so, making one end fast round the block with a well-tried mooring
knot--one which old Daygo had taught them might be depended upon for
securing a boat--they calculated how much rope would be necessary to
well reach the bottom of the broken-off slope, and at the end of this
the line was knotted round Vince's chest and he prepared to descend.

"Ease it away gently, so that I'm not checked," said the lad, as Mike
took hold close to him and knelt down ready to pay the rope out and so
as to be able to tighten his grasp at any moment if there was a slip.

"Right! I'll mind; and you'll be all right: you can't fall."

"I know," was the reply; and trusting to his companion, while
strengthened by the knowledge that at the very worst he must be brought
up short by the granite block, Vince gave a sharp look downward, and,
selecting a spot at the edge a little to his right for the point to make
for, he turned his face to the slope and began to descend, carefully
picking hand and foothold and helped by the steady strain upon the rope
which was kept up by Mike, who watched every movement breathlessly, his
eyes fixed upon his companion's head, and ready to respond to every
order which was uttered.

Vince went down as calmly and deliberately as if the level ground were
just below him till he was about two-thirds of the way, when he could
not help giving a start, for Mike suddenly exclaimed:

"Here's that old raven coming!"

"Where?"

"Off to my right--in a hurry. You must be somewhere near the nest."

Vince hes