Mr. Wood would certainly have
volunteered to make the attempt in his place, had he known the
circumstances, Anstice had discovered, by a casual word let drop by his
wife, that the clergyman suffered from a long-standing weakness of the
heart which would have prevented him carrying through the project
successfully.

Plainly he must be the one to go, for Hassan, whom they had been forced,
through stress of circumstance, to take into their confidence, had
absolutely refused to brave the perils of the journey and the dangling
rope, and since he must be back at his post as soon after midnight as
possible, Anstice steeled his heart and bade Iris good-bye with a
stoical calm which did not deceive her in the least.

"Keep up your courage, Mrs. Cheniston." He laid his hand gently on her
arm. "I'll be back in an hour or so--and in the meantime, if there
should be any change, you will do exactly as I have told you." He had
already given her full directions. "Remember, no one but Mr. Garnett and
Hassan knows of my absence, so don't be surprised if I'm supposed to be
asleep somewhere."

"No. But"--she put her own right hand over his as he gently clasped her
arm--"you're sure there is no one but you to go? Is Mr. Wood too old?"

"No--but his heart is affected, and the climb would be dangerous. And
Hassan, though he's behaved like a brick up to now, funks the climb."
His tone was good-naturedly contemptuous. "As for Garnett, he's longing
to go--can't quite forgive me for shoving him out--but his arm won't
stand it; so plainly I am the one to go."

"Then go--and God be with you," she said very gently, and in her eyes
Anstice saw once again the look of mingled strength and tenderness whose
possibility he had divined long ago on the occasion of their first
meeting on that sunlit morning on the steps of Cherry Orchard.

* * * * *

And with the words ringing in his ears he set forth upon his quest.

CHAPTER V

It was a perfect moonlight night, and as he swung himself out over the
rocky precipice, which was surely more formidable at close quarters than
it had appeared from above, Anstice was conscious of a sudden wild
exhilaration which sent the blood coursing like quicksilver through his
veins.

He knew very well that he was embarking upon a perilous adventure which
might easily end in disaster, for he had no delusions on the subject of
his probable fate did he fall into the hands of the v