A "journalist," clever, not only in understanding, but in performing everything.
The ladder was finally fixed on the 28th of May.

There were not less than a hundred rounds in this perpendicular height of eighty feet.
Harding had been able, fortunately, to divide it in two parts, profiting by an overhanging of the cliff which made a projection forty feet above the ground.

This projection, carefully leveled by the pickaxe, made a sort of platform, to which they fixed the first ladder, of which the oscillation was thus diminished one-half, and a rope permitted it to be raised to the level of Granite House.

As to the second ladder, it was secured both at its lower part, which rested on the projection, and at its upper end, which was fastened to the door.

In short the ascent had been made much easier.