Thus far he had been extremely fortunate in meeting with no difficulty, the projections affording abundant support for hands and feet.

Moreover, he had again attained a ledge where he was able to sustain himself with comparative ease.
He paused, panting, trembling and exhausted.

Thrusting out his head as far as was safe, he looked downward.

Nothing but impenetrable gloom met his eye.

He could hear the torrent rushing against the rocks and boulders in its path, and flinging itself against the walls of the canyon, but he could distinguish nothing, and his strong sense now came to his rescue.
"If he is down there he cannot see me; he will not dream I have started to climb the wall, and therefore will not follow.