that the cliff exhibits an intensifying
feature which some of those are without--sheer perpendicularity from the
half-tide level.

Yet this remarkable rampart forms no headland: it rather walls in an
inlet--the promontory on each side being much lower. Thus, far from
being salient, its horizontal section is concave. The sea, rolling
direct from the shores of North America, has in fact eaten a chasm into
the middle of a hill, and the giant, embayed and unobtrusive, stands in
the rear of pigmy supporters. Not least singularly, neither hill, chasm,
nor precipice has a name. On this account I will call the precipice the
Cliff without a Name.*

* See Preface

What gave an added terror to its height was its blackness. And upon this
dark face the beating of ten thousand west winds had formed a kind of
bloom, which had a visual effect not unlike that of a Hambro' grape.
Moreover it seemed to float off into the atmosphere, and inspire terror
through the lungs.

'This piece of quartz, supporting my feet, is on the very nose of
the cliff,' said Knight, breaking the silence after his rigid stoical
meditation. 'Now what you are to do is this. Clamber up my body till
your feet are on my shoulders: when you are there you will, I think, be
able to climb on to level ground.'

'What will you do?'

'Wait whilst you run for assistance.'

'I ought to have done that in the first place, ought I not?'

'I was in the act of slipping, and should have reached no stand-point
without your weight, in all probability. But don't let us talk. Be
brave, Elfride, and climb.'

She prepared to ascend, saying, 'This is the moment I anticipated when
on the tower. I thought it would come!'

'This is not a time for superstition,' said Knight. 'Dismiss all that.'

'I will,' she said humbly.

'Now put your foot into my hand: next the other. That's good--well done.
Hold to my shoulder.'

She placed her feet upon the stirrup he made of his hand, and was high
enough to get a view of the natural surface of the hill over the bank.

'Can you now climb on to level ground?'

'I am afraid not. I will try.'

'What can you see?'

'The sloping common.'

'What upon it?'

'Purple heather and some grass.'

'Nothing more--no man or human being of any kind?'

'Nobody.'

'Now try to get higher in this way. You see that tuft of sea-pink above
you. Get that well into your hand, but don't trust to it entirely. Then
step upon my shoulder, and I th