th infinite precaution. Once Lord
Tamerton slipped and would have fallen headlong to destruction had not
Ralph caught him by the ear and lifted him back into his steps.

But at length the trying passage was almost accomplished. Only Sir
Ernest Scrivener remained in peril.

Unconsciously Ralph removed his fingers from his lips. Inexperienced as
a climber, Sir Ernest imagined this to be a signal that the danger was
now over.

"I say," he began.

It was enough. In an instant the whole line of _seracs_ toppled from
their bases and thundered down upon him. Ralph did not hesitate. The man
was his most deadly enemy, but--he was Lady Margaret's cousin. Ralph
sprang to the rope; it snapped like thread between his fingers.

With a cry of despair Sir Ernest vanished in the roaring avalanche of
ice and snow. Throwing a quick reassuring smile to Lady Margaret, Ralph
joined his hands above his head and dived unflinchingly after him.

(_To be concluded in our next._)

* * * * *

Illustration: _Golfer_ (_playing his second round in the day_). "INTO
THIS BEASTLY BUNKER AGAIN, CADDIE!"

_Caddie._ "NO, S'. THIS IS THE ONE YOU MISSED THIS MORNING."

* * * * *

THE WISER CHOICE.

[A weekly paper points out that letters of proposal should be
carefully timed to arrive in the evening, that being the sentimental
time of the day when acceptance is most likely.]

Good Sir, your directions are all very fine,
But, when I propose by the pen trick,
I shall look for a temper to tolerate mine,
And mine is distinctly eccentric;
If she, in the morning, is likely to grouse,
If her breakfast demeanour is surly,
There would not be room for us both in the house;
I'm peevish myself when it's early.

So rather I'd have her most critical mood
Prevail at the time of my wooing;
I'd like to be sure that the girl understood
Exactly the thing she was doing.
I feel in my heart it were better for me
To double the risk of rejection,
In order (if haply accepted) to be
A calm and cold-blooded selection.

Let my letter arrive when the day at its start
Provokes a malevolent feeling;
Her answer may puncture a hole in my heart,
But Time is an expert at healing;
And that will be better than learning too late,
At the end of the honeymoon season,
That the lady had only consented to mate
In an hour that was bad for her reason.