it? To spring from my precarious foothold was impossible, and not the
slightest hold could I find for my fingers anywhere to draw myself up.
Night was now upon me, to return to the ledge was out of the question,
and I knew that I could not cling for long where I was, but that long
before daylight came again I must fall into the awful abyss that yawned
beneath me. God! to die like this after all my struggle, to die within
a few inches of freedom. Had I but a rope! And with the thought came
inspiration. The sling of the haversack! It was of stout, strong
canvas, and might hold could I but throw the loop over the pinnacle. It
was a poor chance but my only one. Hastily slipping it off I held the
bag in my right hand, and clutching my only handhold with the left, I
attempted to throw the loop over the sharp point above me. Again and
again I missed, and it was in an agony of despair, when, at last, it
fell clear over the point and held. I hauled at it with all the
strength of my free arm and it held firm. But would it hold my weight?
This I could not test, but I must perforce stake all upon the chance,
for there was no other chance. Should a strand of the canvas give, down
I must go hurtling to my death. There was no other way, and with an
inarticulate prayer I gripped the strap fast with my other hand and
swung myself upwards. A second later although in my agony it seemed an
eternity and my hand clutched the pinnacle itself; a wild convulsive
scramble and I was up safe . . . and free . . at last! And even as I
dragged myself into freedom, the haversack, loosened from its hold,
fell with all its precious contents into the black depths below!

CHAPTER VII

THE COUNTRY OF CRATERS, THE PATH OF SKULLS, AND THE SNAKE

Filled, as I could but be, with thankfulness at my escape from
captivity and from an awful death, I did not realize for a time what
the loss of the diamonds meant to me; indeed I was too exhausted by my
terrific struggle to do more than crawl a few yards away from the
brink, throw myself down in the sand and sink into the sleep of utter
weariness.

But with my awakening the bitter truth was borne upon me in a flash.
All my struggle had then been in vain. I had won my freedom but had
lost all that would make life bearable. Even if I could win back
through the desert, what had I now to compensate me for the horrible
disfigurement that would make me shunned and despised a leper amongst
my fellowmen?