h for a week without finding us here; and,
as the army is advancing, they could not spare more than a day; so, if
we are to get away, it must be by our own exertions."

"I am ready to fight my way along this ledge, my lord, if such is your
wish. They cannot see us to fire at, and as only one man can stand
abreast, their numbers would be of no avail to them."

"Not on the ledge, Nessus; but they would hardly defend that. No doubt
they are grouped at the further end, and we should have to fight against
overwhelming numbers. No, that is not to be thought of. The only way of
escape I can think of would be to let ourselves down the precipice; but
our bernouses would not make a rope long enough."

"They would not reach a third of the distance," Nessus replied, shaking
his head. "They have been worn some time, and the cloth is no longer
strong. It would need a broad strip to support us."

"That is so, Nessus, but we have materials for making the rope long
enough, nevertheless."

"I do not understand you, my lord. Our other garments would be of but
little use."

"Of no use at all, Nessus, and I was not thinking of them; but we have
the skins of the bears--the hide of the old bear at least is thick and
tough--and a narrow strip would bear our weight."

"Of course," Nessus said. "How stupid of me not to think of it, for in
the desert we make all our rope of twisted slips of hide. If you will
stand sentry here, my lord, I will set about it at once."

Malchus took the spear, and Nessus at once set to work to skin the bear,
and when that was done he cut long strips from the hide, and having
fastened them together, twisted them into a rope.

The bernouses--which when on the march were rolled up and worn over one
shoulder like a scarf, as the German and Italian soldiers carry their
blankets in modern times--were also cut up and twisted, and in three
hours Nessus had a rope which he assured Malchus was long enough to
reach to the bottom of the precipice and sufficiently strong to bear
their weight.

One end was fastened to the trunk of the young tree, and the rope was
then thrown over the edge of the platform. One of the young bear's skins
was fastened round and round it at the point where it crossed the edge
of the rocky platform, to prevent it from being cut when the weight was
put upon it, and they then prepared for their descent.

"Do you go first," Malchus said. "As soon as I feel that the rope is
loose, I will follow