see through a mist, while a strange, paralysing
feeling began to creep through him, so that he knew that he would not be
able to help.

And all the time Gwyn rose higher and higher, till he was not ten feet
below the edge, and now the horrible, numbing chill which pervaded Joe's
being was chased away, for he found that he was suddenly called upon to
act--to do something to help.

For the action of the rope had told upon the jacket laid there to soften
the friction, and it began to travel slowly from the edge, keeping time
with the rope, which now ground over the edge, and, to Joe's horror,
looked as if it were fraying.

Bending down, he seized the pad and tried to thrust it back in its
place, but soon found that this was impossible, and, before he could
devise some plan, the knot in front of Gwyn's breast reached the edge,
and a greater call was made upon him for help.

The inaction had passed away, and he shouted to Hardock to stop.

"Keep it tight!" he roared; and he went down on his knees, leaned over,
caught hold of the loop on either side close beneath Gwyn's arms, and
essayed to lift him over the edge on to the rocky platform.

It was a bitter lesson in his want of power, for, partly from his
position there on the extreme edge of the terrible precipice, partly
from its being a task for a muscular man, he found out he could not stir
Gwyn in the least, only hold him tighter against the rock, pressing the
great knot of the rope into the boy's chest.

"Up with him, lad!" shouted Hardock from where he stood straining the
rope tight. "Up with him--right over on to the rock!"

Joe's eyes dilated and he gazed horror-stricken into the eyes of his
comrade, who hung there perfectly inert, while just overhead three great
grey gulls wheeled round and round, uttering their screams, and looking
as if they expected that the next minute the boy would have fallen
headlong on to the stones beneath.

"Come, look sharp!" shouted Hardock; "this rope cuts. Up with him
quick!"

"Can--can you get hold of anything and--and help?" panted Joe at last,
hoarsely.

Gwyn stared at him as if he had heard him speak, but did not quite
comprehend what he said.

"Quick, Ydoll! Do you hear! Do something to help. Get hold."

This seemed to rouse the boy, who slowly loosened his hold of the rope,
and then, with a quick spasmodic action, caught hold of the collar of
Joe's jacket on either side.

"Now--your feet," said Joe, in a ha