By hauling them over the top of the rocks you will probably cut them, or part them, and then I'm lost, without hope!" "Oh! Sir Wycherly," said Mildred, earnestly, clasping her hands together, as if to enforce the request with prayer; "do not--do not touch the line." "We had better let the lad manage the matter in his own way," put in Dutton; "he is active, resolute, and a seaman, and will do better for himself than I fear we can do for him.

He has got a turn round his body, and is tolerably safe against any slip, or mishap." As the words were uttered, the whole three drew back a short distance and watched the result, in intense anxiety.

Dutton, however, so far recollected himself, as to take an end of the old halyards, which were kept in a chest at the foot of the staff, and to make, an attempt to stopper together the two parts of the little rope on which the youth depended, for should one of the parts of it break, without this precaution, there was nothing to prevent the halyards from running round the staff, and destroying the hold.

The size of the halyards rendered this expedient very difficult of attainment, but enough was done to give the arrangement a little more of the air of security.

All this time young Wychecombe was making his own preparations on the ledge, and quite out of view; but the tension on the halyards soon announced that his weight was now pendent from them.