If he does, he must appear below me, and I will kick him loose the minute I see him.

How foolish to be afraid!" In a few minutes his nerves became calmer, but he began to realize the nature of the terrifying task before him.

There was no thought of retreat on his part, and he was determined to keep on, so long as the work was possible.
His feet were paining him, and were certain to pain him a good deal more before he reached the top; but healthy, rugged youth has elastic muscles, and in a short time Fred was ready to resume his work.

His panic was gone, and he exerted himself with the deliberate care which he should have shown from the first.
As nearly as he could judge he had climbed some twenty paces, when he was startled, upon extending his hand upward, to encounter only the smooth face of the wall.

Hitherto there had been more projections than he required, but now the steps appeared to vanish, leaving him without any support.
Could it be he would have to abandon his effort after making so fine a start?
Must he pick his way down the side of the canyon, again, to the cavern, and there meekly resume the torture of waiting for death from starvation?
Failure was too terrible to be thought of, and he resumed his searching for the indispensable support.
Certainly there was nothing directly above him that would serve, and he passed his right hand to one side.