want of a little extra effort. If we _are_, you may be sure we
shall never be allowed to make a second attempt. Now our only chance is
to scale that cliff; we _must_ do it, and we _can_ do it, if we only go
resolutely to work. It will be difficult, fatiguing, and awfully
dangerous, for we must take poor Walford with us; but _liberty_ awaits
us at the top; the sea is not half a mile off, I know, by the sound of
it; and we can reach it before those fellows can ride round to intercept
us; so let us set to with a will, my lad, and we shall scrape clear yet,
you take my word for it. Now out with your cane-knife, and cut away at
the grass; we must well pad poor Walford all round with it, so that he
may not be hurt by bumping against those rocks; then we'll lash him hard
and fast in the canvas, lash ourselves one to each end of him, and away
aloft we go."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

ON THE FACE OF THE PRECIPICE.

The cane-knives were speedily at work; the grass was long and abundant,
and as the two men were working for liberty--nay, probably for life
itself--they were not long in cutting a sufficient quantity for their
purpose. Walford was then lifted carefully out upon the ground, the
grass was thickly and evenly distributed over the inner side of the
hammock, and then the invalid was again deposited within it, and
securely lashed up, his head only being left free. This done, two
lanyards were securely attached to the extempore hammock, one at its
head, and the other at its foot.

"Well done; that's capital!" exclaimed George, as the last turn was
taken, making all secure. "Now slip the bight over your--ah! here come
the dogs, by all that's unfortunate. We must defend ourselves with the
cane-knives. I'll tackle the first one, you take the next, and--mind--
we have no time to waste; luckily there are only three of the brutes as
yet; we must kill them, and be up out of reach before the others or
their masters arrive. Keep steady, Tom, my lad, and strike so that one
blow shall be sufficient. Now then--come on, you devils!"

As George finished speaking, the dogs--three superb specimens of the
Cuban bloodhound--dashed up to within about ten feet of the fugitives,
and there stopped, not attacking them, as they had expected, but merely
baying loudly.

"This will not do," exclaimed George; "if we turn our backs upon them
for a single instant, they will seize us; and we cannot afford the time
to stand looking at them.