ith knitted brow.

"There: that is safe," said Dale. "Now pick up your ice-axe and hold by
the rope with your left hand, so as to ease the strain upon your chest.
Use the ice-axe cautiously, to keep yourself from turning round and from
striking against the side. When you get down to the ledge, which must
be, from what you say, only just out of sight, you will chip a secure
place for your feet if the ice slopes, and, proceeding quite slowly and
calmly, make yourself first quite safe. When this is done, unfasten the
rope from about you, and make it fast about poor Melchior. Be very
particular about the knot, mind. Don't forget what I have taught you.
That knot must not slip in any way, either in tightening round his chest
or coming undone."

"I'll remember," panted Saxe.

"That's right. Now then, I think that is all, except a final word.
There is no danger for you to dread. The rope is new and strong, and I
am at one end."

"You will not let it slip through your hands?"

Dale smiled at him sadly, and shook his head.

"Ready?" he said.

"Yes."

"Take off your hat."

Saxe obeyed, and Dale removed his and knelt down in the snow, Saxe
slowly sinking upon his knees.

There was a minute's silence as a brief, heartfelt prayer was offered up
for help: and then Dale sprang to his feet with an eager, bright,
cheerful look upon his face, and, clapping a hand on either side of
Saxe's waist, he lifted him by his belt and set him down again.

"Why, I could draw up half a dozen of you," he said. "Now, steady!
Down with you, and slide over. Saxe, you are going to the rescue of a
fellow-man."

The boy set his teeth, his brow furrowed, and there were marks about his
eyes, as he saw Dale throw the rope round the handle of the ice-axe, and
then over the coil, so that the rings of rope should come off freely.
Then he grasped the hemp firmly with one hand, his ice-axe with the
other, and threw back his legs over the edge of the crevasse close to
where the great piece had broken away. As he did this a piece of snow
slipped from under his chest, and went down before him and he was over
the side, swinging gently to and fro, as he heard a spattering noise
come from below.

"Don't be afraid to talk, Saxe," said Dale loudly; and every word came
distinctly to the boy's ears as the sides of the crevasse slowly rose
above him, and, in spite of himself, he turned his eyes up with a wild
longing toward the deep blue sky.

"I