e of
plate glass at an angle of sixty degrees.

"Rest awhile, Baas," said the dwarf, whose breath was coming in great
sobs, "then make a little nick in the ice with the blade of the spear,
and when next I pull, try to set some of your weight upon it."

Leonard did as he was bid without speaking.

"Now," said the dwarf, and with a push and a struggle Leonard was two
feet higher up the incline. Again the process was repeated, and this
time he got his left hand into the lowest of the two steps that Otter
had hacked with the knife, and once more they paused for breath. A third
effort, the fiercest of them all, a clasping of hands, and he was lying
trembling like a frightened child above the glacier's lip.

The ordeal was over, that danger was done with, but at what a cost!
Leonard's nerves were completely shattered, he could not stand, his
face was bleeding, his nails were broken, and the bone of one knee was
exposed by the friction of the ice, to say nothing of the shock to the
system and the bruises which he had received when he was hurled from the
stone. Otter's condition was a little better, but his hands were cut
by the rope and he was utterly exhausted with toil and the strain of
suspense. Indeed, of the three Juanna had come off by far the best, for
she swooned at the very beginning of the passage of the bridge, and when
they were jerked from the stone, being lighter than Leonard, she had
fallen upon him. Moreover, the thick goat-skin cloak which was wrapped
about her had protected her from all hurt beyond a few trifling cuts and
bruises. Of their horrible position when they were hanging to the spear,
and the rest of the adventure, including the death of Soa, she knew
nothing, and it was well for her reason that this was so.

"Otter," murmured Leonard in a shaking voice, "have you lost that gourd
of spirit?"

"No, Baas, it is safe."

"Thank Heaven!" he said; "hold it to my lips if you can."

The dwarf lifted it with a trembling hand, and Leonard gulped down the
fiery liquor.

"That's better," he said; "take some yourself."

"Nay, Baas, I have sworn to touch drink no more," Otter answered,
looking at the gourd longingly; "besides you and the Shepherdess will
want it all. I have some food here and I will eat."

"What happened to Soa, Otter?"

"I could not see rightly, Baas, I was too frightened, much more
frightened than I had been when I rode the stone myself; but I think
that her legs caught in the ice