and fasten it safely, if you can."

There was such a sneer in this that Melchior looked at him reproachfully
before reaching round the side of the grotto and then stepping out of
sight.

"Rather an upset for you, my lad," said Dale kindly, as he took Saxe's
hand, while they could hear the rustling and scratching made by Melchior
as he climbed up, dragging the rope after him; for he had not stopped to
coil it up, but merely threw the loop over his head and put one arm
through it.

"Yes, I thought I was gone," replied the boy.

"It has made your hand feel wet, and set it trembling."

"Has it?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry; for I want you to get plenty of nerve out here."

"I'm sorry too, for I hate to feel afraid."

"That was enough to make any man feel afraid. I'm trembling too, my
lad; and my heart felt quite in my throat for a few moments."

Just then the rope was shaken vigorously, and became still once more.

"It is quite safe now, herr!" cried the guide; "and I am holding it down
too."

"Right!" shouted back Dale. "I'll go first this time, Saxe."

"No, sir! please let me go: I would rather."

"Do you feel cool enough?"

"That will make me cooler."

"Then go on. Stop! you had better have the rope midway fastened to your
waist, and I can hold the other end; then you cannot fall."

"No, no!" cried Saxe, rather hoarsely. "Let me climb without."

Dale gave way rather unwillingly, and the boy seized the rope, gave it a
tremendous tug, and then swung himself out sidewise and began to climb;
while Dale leaned out and watched him, uttering a low sigh of
satisfaction as he saw him reach the top, and then following without
making use of the rope.

"Now," he said, as he reached the others, "how was it that rope
slipped?"

"I cannot say, herr," cried Melchior. "Look, here: the loop is big
enough for it to come off easily if some one took hold of it with both
hands and drew it up quite two feet, but it could not slip off by
itself."

"But it did."

Melchior shook his head.

"Oh, man, man, how can you be so absurd!" cried Dale impatiently. "You
don't mean to say you believe any mischievous imp could have thrown it
off?"

"What am I to believe, when the rope falls on us like that? There is no
one here in this desolate, awful place--not even a wild beast."

"Stop!" cried Saxe: "are you sure? Would a bear do that?"

"Surely not, herr."

"I'll believe in the bear before I believe in the gnome or kob