And are we not old and trusted friends? Was not each of those minutes
on the face of the cliff, a year? While that second which elapsed between
the slipping of my knife from my right hand and the catching of it,
against my knee, by my left, may go at ten years! Ah, think if it had
dropped altogether! No, don't think. We were barely half way up. Now you
must contrive to put on your shoes and stockings." He produced them from
his pocket. "And then we must find out how to place ourselves most
comfortably and safely. We have but one enemy to fight during the next
seven hours--cramp. You must tell me immediately if you feel it
threatening anywhere, I have done a lot of scouting in my time, and know
a dodge or two. I also know what it is to lie in one position for hours,
not daring to move a muscle, the cold sweat pouring off my face, simply
from the agonies of cramp. We must guard against that."

"Jim," said Myra, "how long shall we have to sit here?"

He made a quick movement, as if the sound of his name from her lips for
the first time, meant much to him; and there was in his voice an added
depth of joyousness, as he answered:

"It would be impossible to climb from here to the top of the cliff. When
I came down, I had a sheer drop of ten feet. You see the cliff slightly
overhangs just above us. So far as the tide is concerned we might clamber
down in three hours; but there is no moon, and by then, it will be pitch
dark. We must have light for our descent, if I am to land you safe and
unshaken at the bottom. Dawn should be breaking soon after three. The sun
rises to-morrow at 3.44; but it will be quite light before then. I think
we may expect to reach the Moorhead Inn by 4 A.M. Let us hope Miss
Murgatroyd will not be looking out of her window, as we stroll up the
path."

"What are they all thinking now?" questioned Lady Ingleby.

"I don't know, and I don't care," said Jim Airth, gaily. "You're alive,
and I'm alive; and we've done a record climb! Nothing else matters."

"No, but seriously, Jim?"

"Well, seriously, it is very unlikely that I shall be missed at all. I
often dine elsewhere, and let myself in quite late; or stop out
altogether. How about you?"

"Why, curiously enough," said Myra, "before coming out I locked my
bedroom door. I have the key here. I had left some papers lying about--I
am not a very tidy person. On the only other occasion upon which I locked
my door, I omitted dinner altogether, and went to