Walter Hine began to take heart; and as the flames blazed up, the six men gathered about it, crouching, kneeling, sitting, and the rocks resounded with their laughter.
"Only a little further, Wallie!" said Garratt Skinner, still true to his part.
They descended from the rocks, crossed a level field of ice and struck the rock path along the slope of the Mont de la Brenva.
"Keep on the rope," said Garratt Skinner.

"Hine slipped at a corner as we came up"; and Chayne glanced quickly at him.

There were one or two awkward corners above the lower glacier where rough footsteps had been hewn.

On one of these Walter Hine had slipped, and Garratt Skinner had saved him--had undoubtedly saved him.

At the very beginning of the climb, the object for which it was undertaken was almost fulfilled, and would have been fulfilled but that instinct overpowered Garratt Skinner, and since the accident was unexpected, before he had had time to think he had reached out his hand and saved the life which he intended to destroy.
Along that path Hine was carefully brought to the chalets of La Brenva.
The peasants made him as comfortable as they could.
"He will recover," said Simond.