hing against the perpendicular rock wall,
while his left hung free.

He could not see, but he knew that his left fingers must be pointing
down into the tremendous gulf; and in imagination he saw with wonderful
accuracy through the golden transparent air the various plants which
grew from the interstices of the titanic wall, the bushes and shrubs,
the pendent vines and clinging creepers, the shelves and faults in the
strata here and there deeper down, and then lower and lower still the
gaps and hollows whence stalwart trees had risen from seeds dropped or
hidden by some bird--trees which had grown out almost horizontally, and
then curved up into their proper vertical position, to rise up and up as
the years rolled on, though now they looked mere shrubs a handbreadth
high.

And as the boy walked on he saw lower and lower the forest monarchs
dwarfed to shrubs, and lower still patches of timber that were
indistinct and looking hardly more than grass, while here and there the
light of the setting sun gleamed ruddily from the water of the chain of
lakes.

It was but the picture raised by memory from where it was printed upon
Nic's mind, but it was very accurate, and almost exactly what he would
have seen had his eyes been free during that long, long walk, as it
seemed--a walk of a few brief minutes though, and then his hand was
dropped.

"Don't do that till you've unbound my eyes," said Nic sharply.

"Why not, boy? we are in safety now."

Nic's breath was exhaled in a hoarse sigh as he felt the kerchief drawn
from his face, and he looked round to see that they were among trees.

"Was it very dangerous?" he said.

"Very; or I would not have asked you to be bound. Now, my lad,
good-bye."

"No, no; I have quite a load of meal for you on the horse."

"There is no time to fetch it. Leave it for me on the chance of my
finding it."

"But where? You never will."

The convict thought for a moment.

"I'll tell you," he said. "Lay it in the crack close to the edge of the
precipice where I held you half over that day. Cover it with grass. It
will be on your way home, and I shall be able to find it if the coast is
clear. Once more: straight away for where your horse is grazing. Can
you find it, do you think?"

"Oh yes. I can follow my way back," said Nic. "I shall see my tracks
here and there."

"Then once more: good-bye."

He turned sharply and disappeared, while, tired and disappointed, Nic
had a hard ta