e act of looking downward from so great an elevation, and the sight of
the sheer precipice, on the very edge of which he was hanging, with
absolutely nothing to prevent him from falling over and going whirling
headlong down to the bottom, produced in George a sudden attack of
vertigo. The whole landscape appeared to rock to and fro; the ledge
upon which he was standing seemed to sway suddenly forward over the
abyss and threaten to launch him into space; he felt himself wavering
upon the very brink, and an almost uncontrollable impulse seized him to
spring off and take that terrible downward flight. Another glance
downward, and the impulse became irresistible. He drew back a step,
braced himself for the terrible leap, flung his arms above his head,
and, uttering a piercing cry, was in the very act of launching himself
forward over the edge, when Tom, happening to glance at him, and to
detect his suicidal determination just in time, sprang up, and, with a
cry of amazement and horror, dragged him forcibly back against the wall
of rock behind.

"Why, cap'n!" exclaimed the lad, as soon as he had sufficiently
recovered from his astonishment to speak,--"why, cap'n, whatever's the
matter with yer? What was you goin' to do?"

For the moment poor George was too unnerved to speak. The instant that
he was dragged back from the ledge, the horrible fascination lost its
hold upon him; he suddenly realised in its fullest extent the frightful
peril from which he had been so providentially snatched, and, covering
his face with his hands, as the revulsion of feeling came upon him, he
shook and quivered like an aspen-leaf. A minute or two more and this
dreadful feeling also passed away, his calmness and self-possession
returned to him, and, placing himself upon his knees, there on that
narrow ledge of rock he humbly returned his hearty thanks to God for his
preservation, and prayed for help and deliverance for himself and his
companions in their present sore need. Then, turning to Tom, he said--

"Thank you, Tom; you have saved my life as surely as ever man's life has
been saved by a fellow-creature in this world. I was in the very act of
springing off the rock when you dragged me back, and, but for you, my
body would at this moment be lying mangled and lifeless a hundred feet
below. I do not know how it was, but when I looked down over the edge,
I turned giddy and sick all in a moment, and then I felt that I _must_
fling myself