eeting energy into me--it was Three Star,
luckily, and I believe it saved my life--I should never have succeeded.
I most heartily wished I had never seen Du Plessis, never started on
this accursed trip, never offered to risk my life. I struggled on,
growing weaker and slower. Once I slipped three or four good feet, and
only saved myself by some miraculous luck! The sharp wall behind me
laid a deep furrow into my back as I did so, and I felt the warm blood
issuing forth and mingling with the sweat that ran from me.

Once more I set my teeth for the last twenty feet. I recovered my
ground, and foot by foot fought my way on. The muscles of my legs
quivered like aspen leaves; I feared they would give way each moment.
At last--I hardly know how--I found my face above the cliff; the sweet
outer air met me; I gave a last struggle, got foothold on the right,
flung myself forward, and lay upon the cliff top with my feet still
projecting over the edge. I remember hearing a faint shout from far
beneath me, and then all swam.

When I came to, I suppose I had lain senseless for a quarter of an hour.
I was in sorry plight indeed. I was stiff, sore, bleeding from my
back, and the poor remnant of my shirt hung in front of me. I staggered
to my feet and looked about me. A glance showed me that there were yet
difficulties to be overcome before we could descend to the vlei, yet
they were not insuperable. The chiefest of them lay in a sharp
saddle-back of rock, sheer on either side, which had to be crossed
somehow before the main mass of the inner ring of mountain could be
attained. But my strength was coming back to me; a sense of triumph and
elation over the dreadful task I had conquered rose in my breast; and my
determination to pierce the secret of the valley was stronger than ever.

Here and there upon the cliff top grew some wild olive trees, stunted
and dwarfed, but strong. To one of these I fastened the end of the rope
I had brought up with me. I now approached the edge, lay down, and
looked over. Du Plessis was there, gazing anxiously upward. I shook
the rope and shouted to him to come up. We had agreed upon this plan,
if I succeeded; and he now fastened the lower end of the rope round his
waist and began his climb. With the help of the rope it was
comparatively easy work. The Dutchman was strong in the arms and
active, and came steadily on. Occasionally he unbound the rope, and
refastened it at a higher point