ssibility to get down,
for the cliff looked slanting from that point.

Beneath me were two hundred feet of rugged cliff, and if I failed to
reach Ruth I should fall from point to point on the rocks beneath and
be killed.

I took off my coat and prepared to leap.

At this moment she awoke to consciousness and looked around her, and
seeing her position she gave a scream of affright.

"Don't move," I said, "I'm going to save you."

Her eager eyes gave me strength and courage. I disencumbered myself of
everything that would hinder me and placed my feet in the best position
for a leap.

By this time I began to be excited. The sound of the sea seemed cruel,
while the rocks looked like so many giant gaunt spectres that would
lure me to destruction. There was no time for wild fancyings, however,
so I nerved myself for what lay before me.

Then I took the leap.

CHAPTER VI

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I shall never forget the feeling which possessed me when I made this
terrible leap. If my foot should slip, if I should fall short, if I
should fall and be dashed to pieces! It was only a second; but I
seemed to live a whole lifetime in that second. I landed safely,
however, and was soon by Ruth's side.

To my delight she was scarcely hurt at all, except that she had
received a shock. She was trembling violently, but she was a brave
little thing, and as soon as I came she conquered her weakness.

"Can we get away from here, Roger?" she said, at length.

"I think so," I replied. "If we can't get down from here they will get
us a rope, which I will fasten around you, so that you may be easily
drawn up."

"Oh, I do not think I dare be drawn up," she said, with a shudder.
"Can we not get down? I dare try with you to help me."

I examined the rocks, and decided to make the attempt. It was a long
and tedious journey, especially as I had to clamber from rock to rock,
and then lift Ruth. We managed it, however, and after a time stood
safely on the hard beach.

No sooner had we done so than I heard my father's voice above. He had
come with a rope and other means by which we might be helped; but right
glad was he when he saw that we were not needing his help.

"The tide is out," I shouted in answer to his query as to how we should
get home, "and I shall walk down to Trewinion Cove, and thus escape
climbing any cliffs."

We started together.

"This is the second time you have saved my life, Roger," Ruth said.