nt, as he at length reached the rocks, tumbled the
load off his head--the load which had never seemed once to lose its
poise--and finally we could see him seated facing us wiping his hot face
with the front of his blouse.

"He's got over," said Esau, hoarsely.

"Yes," I said, in the same husky tones.

"One of us has got to go next."

"Yes," I said. "Who shall go?"

"Wish I'd got a good pole with a spike at the end," said Esau.

"So do I."

"Or I wouldn't mind if it was only a clothes-prop."

"But we have neither, Esau."

"Well, don't I know we haven't? What's the good o' being so
aggravating, and keeping on saying we ain't--we ain't? Lots o'
beautiful trees behind us to cut clothes-props to last all Camberwell
for life, and there's lots over there in front, but they don't bring us
one. It's always the way. There's lots o' money in the Bank o'
England, but we couldn't get it to come out here."

"Don't be unreasonable," I said, and I gave quite a start as a stone
from above came rattling down.

"Who's unreasonable?" grumbled Esau; "I ain't: only a bit wild at having
to go across that precious bit o' solid slide. What do you think my
mother would say if she saw me coming here and going to start over that
place? Why, it would kill her."

"It does look dangerous," I said, sadly.

"Look! Why, it is. It's horrid."

"But they've got over safely."

"That don't mean I shall. Oh dear, oh dear! This comes o' picking up
strange friends, and letting 'em lead us into difficulties. And not so
much as a walking-stick to help us."

I was in no humour to argue, with the perilous crossing before me, so I
remained silent.

"I said--and not so much as a walking-stick to help us."

"Yes, Esau, I heard you."

"Then why don't you say something?"

"What can I say? Only be plucky and go."

"There you go again! Oh, it does aggravate me. Now you want me to go
off first."

"No; I'll go first if you like; but I should like to see you safe over."

"That's just what I feel about you. I say--if I fall I shall go head
over heels down, like a ball."

"No, no; you must drop into a sitting position, and slide down."

"If you can," grumbled Esau. "Oh dear, I wish I hadn't come. I'd give
all I've got to be sitting down in old Dempster's office, with him
bullying me about a mistake in the copying."

"Come along!" came like an echo over the stones, and even that sound
sent a few stones sliding down as I looke