The times., 1901-03-10

see hini' They helped her up and she
looked into their faces. You are going
to leave himi' she cried; you are not
going to try to save him.
"Fraulein, you know us,' the elder said,
with sad shake of his head. IF it were
possible, We would do it; but it is not
Look for yourself. Fraulein.'
1t was true what he said. 1t was a
matter of drop of eighty feet at most;
but that glazed rock, shelving inward a
that sharp angle. made ii so hopeless
that these men, who were brave as lions,
VINO had behaved on more than one Occa-
sion like heroes. who had twice saved her
own life. would not attempt it.
She gave quick glance at their rope
and at her own, which she had placed on
a rock by the side of the ice ak.
Il will do it," she said, and her face
looked beautiful just then. with the light
of firm purpose and self-sacrifice shining
in her eyes. You have enough ropeI
will try.
''Fraulein. you must not-it is deathr'
cried the guides, in fearful alarm. You
know us-and We dare not.
But | will" she cried. Give me dou-
bic rope. and an extra one. / can tie the
knots, you know that-aud 1 shall not lose
my head. Come, Fritz
"Fraulein you will be dashed to pieces
you give your life for nothing the man
said. 1T is impOssiblei
But to argue, to plead with her was use
less, and they knew it, and with tremb-
ling fingers the elder brother knOtted the
roDe around her body and placed another
coil in her hand. She was quite calm;
she even noticed the little red strands
woven into the rope that told her it was
the strongest and best Obtalnable- EV-
erything, she knew, depended on that
rope If she could reach Valance without
being dashed to pieces. That was what
the guides refused to risk, and she knew
that she was not braver than they, only
more foolish.
In silence they lowered her: they could
not afford 10 waste their strength, even
in speech.
1t was no new sensation to her-it had
been necessary on several of her climbs,
and her balance was perfect. She looked
down and saw something that brought her
heart TO a standstill. She was some thir-
ty feet above the ledge where Valance
lay, some tirteen feet away from it hOri-
ZontaIy. owing to the shelving of the
rock; and the young man s body was in
such a position that it must infalHbiy slip
off the ledge in a very short time She
saw also that the ledge was at the eX-
tTeme end of what might almost be call
ed cave in the face of the rock. and
that level with her eyes was a deep lis
sure. the under portion Of which Jutted
out in a small peak and that this fissure
overhung the ledge almost perpendicu-
Iarly.
+. Her trained eye took it in in a moment
the possibility, the one slender chance
She could loop her extra rope over that
juttiug peak and lower herself right on
TO the ledge But frSt she must get at IL.
1t was at least ten feet away; there was
only one thing to do-to swing herself
on TO il.
She shouted, and they understood above
and ceased serving out the rope. Then
she swung herself slowly, with Incredible
skill each time a little nearer, until at
last she was thrown against the face OF
the rock, just in the right place, diZzy
with q rushing Of waters IN ner ears ana
bleeding hands. To slip the moose of the
extra rope round the juttting peak Of the
fissure was the work of moment. She
shouted again more family, and the rope
was served out once more. Slowly she
lowered herself by the aid Of a third
rope; and she dare not look beneath her.
But she had achieved the impossible.
her foot touched the rock. Another shout,
a wild ClinglnS To something firm for
balance and she found herself kueeling
beside the huddled heap that had started
out so confidently few short hours ago.
She could not stop to see whether he
were dead or alive. With her grlZed hng-
ers she tied the rope around his body, and
her brain, working automatically, Won
dered why she had done this thing. and
could find no answer. She only knew that
as she swung. half blind and deaf, near
er death than she had ever been in her
life, one thing was clear to her-she must
get at him-he must be saved!
1t was only seconds. but il seemed CEN
tures before the knots were tied; then.
knowing that the worst danger was to
come, she pulled the signal rope
simultaneously winding her arms
around the mans body and turning sick
with fear at the dead weight of it. the
woman again swung out. then again, and
again and again, and the fourth time,
she kicked out with her feet. to prevent
their being dashed against the rock. the
sole was torn clean off her boot But. ds
they swung out into space. almost uncon-
scious as she was. she knew that the
worst was over for. with a shivcrinS
Jerk, the rope gradually steadied itself,
and they were hauled uD without the
frightful swinging that might 1T any mo-
meut have meant instant death.