clear and prompt action was necessary, as he knew only too well, and,
setting his teeth hard together, he went on up without a word, step by
step, as he leaned back to the full stretch of his arms, and reached to
where he could just force his feet, one on either side of his
companion's, the spell of the ladder just affording sufficient width,
and then pressing Joe close against the rounds with his
heavily-throbbing breast, he held on in silence for a few moments,
trying to speak, but no words would come.

Meanwhile, Joe remained silent and rigid, as if half insensible; and
Gwyn's brain was active, though his tongue was silent, battling as he
was with the question what to do.

"Oh, if those gulls would only keep away!" he groaned to himself, for at
least a dozen came softly swooping about them, and one so close that the
boy felt the waft of the air set in motion by its wings.

Then the throbbing and fluttering at his heart grew less painful, and
the power to speak returned.

With a strong endeavour to be calm and easy, he forced himself to treat
the position jauntily.

"There you are, old chap," he cried; "friend in need's a friend indeed.
I could hold you on like that for a month--five minutes," he added to
himself. Then aloud once more. "Feel better?"

There was no reply.

"Do you hear, stupid--feel better?"

A low sigh--almost a groan--was the only answer, and Gwyn's teeth grated
together.

"Here, you, Joe," he said firmly. "I know you can hear what I say, so
listen. You don't want for us both to go down, I know, so you've got to
throw off the horrible feeling that's come over you, and do what I say.
I'm going to hold you up like this for five minutes to get your wind,
and then you've got to start and go up round by round. You can't fall
because I shall follow you, keeping like this, and holding you on till
you're better. You can hear all that, you know."

Joe bent his head, and a peculiar quivering, catching sigh escaped his
lips.

"It's all nonsense; you want to give up over climbing a ladder such as
we could run up. 'Tisn't like being on the rocks with nothing to hold
on by, now, is it? Let's see; we're half of the way up, and we can soon
do it, so say when you feel ready, and then up you go!"

But after a guess at the space of time named, Joe showed no inclination
to say he was ready, and stood there, pressed against the ladder,
breathing very feebly, and Gwyn began to be attacked once more