was
seen seated on the opposing mass of rock.

Now came Oliver's turn. He nodded to Maqueda, who went white as a sheet,
muttering some words to her that did not reach me. Then he turned and
shook my hand.

"If you can, save my son also," I whispered.

"I'll do my best if I can get hold of him," he answered. "Sergeant, if
anything happens to me you know your duty."

"I'll try and follow your example, Captain, under all circumstances,
though that will be hard," replied Quick in a rather shaky voice.

Oliver stepped out on the ladder. I reckoned that twelve or fourteen
short paces would take him across, and the first half of these he
accomplished with quiet certainty. When he was in the exact middle of
the passage, however, the end of one of the uprights of the ladder at
the farther side slipped a little, notwithstanding the efforts of Japhet
to keep it straight, with the result that the plank bound on the rungs
lost its level, sinking an inch or so to the right, and nearly causing
Oliver to fall from it into the gulf. He wavered like a wind-shaken
reed, attempted to step forward, hesitated, stopped, and slowly sank on
to his hands and knees.

"_Ah_!" panted Maqueda.

"The Gentile has lost his head," began Joshua in a voice full of the
triumph that he could not hide. "He--will----"

Joshua got no further, for Quick, turning, threatened him savagely with
his fist, saying in English:

"Stow your jaw if you don't want to follow him, you swine," whereon
Joshua, who understood the gesture, if not the words, relapsed into
silence.

Now the Mountaineer on the farther side spoke, saying:

"Have no fear, the ladder is safe."

For a moment Oliver remained in his crouching posture on the board,
which was all that separated him from an awful death in the gulf
beneath. Next, while we watched, agonized, he rose to his feet again,
and with perfect calmness walked across to its other end.

"Well done our side!" said Quick, addressing Joshua, "why don't your
Royal Highness cheer? No, you leave that knife alone, or presently
there'll be a hog the less in this world," and stooping down he relieved
the Prince of the weapon which he was fingering with his round eyes
fixed upon the Sergeant.

Maqueda, who had noted all, now interfered.

"My uncle," she said, "brave men are risking their lives yonder while we
sit in safety. Be silent and cease from quarrelling, I pray you."

Next moment we had forgotten all about Joshua, be