ave found hand-hold the next moment, but,
scared anew by the rush through the air, the young ravens began to flap
their wings violently, and that was sufficient to disturb the lad's
equilibrium. He made a desperate effort to recover it, but one foot
gave way, and he fell, scraping the edge.

Another desperate effort, and he clung to the ledge for a brief moment
or two, and then a yell arose from above, as he went down a few feet and
felt what seemed a violent blow against his side. The next instant his
hands had closed upon the tough stem of a stunted yew, and he was
hanging there, hitched in the little branches, saved from falling
farther, but unable to move from the fear of tearing the shrub from its
root-hold in a crack of the cliff, where there was not a trace of
anything else to which he could cling.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

HOW RALPH SECURED THE WOLF'S CUB.

The perspiration broke out in great drops upon Mark Eden's face; and for
some minutes he hung there, expecting moment by moment that each was his
last, for he knew that he could do nothing, and that he must not stir
hand or foot.

And now he began to realise how mad his attempt had been. Better far
that he had resigned himself to circumstances, and climbed back to the
top. But even then he felt he could not have done this. It would have
been like humbling himself to an enemy of his house, and a flush of
pride came into his pallid cheeks as he felt that he had boldly played
his part. Then a sense of misery and despair crept over him as he
thought of home, of his father and sister, and their sorrow when they
knew of his fate.

All that passed off, and a flush of anger and indignation made his
temples throb, for he distinctly heard Nick Garth say,--

"Why not? Heave it down yourself, then, and put him out of his misery."

What else was said he could not make out; voices were in hurried
converse evidently a short distance back from the edge of the cliff, and
then Mark recognised Ralph's tones, as he said huskily,--

"Can you hold on?"

A bitter defiant taunt came to Mark's lips, and he cried,--

"Your doing, coward! Are you satisfied with your work?"

There was no answer, but the hurried murmur came over the edge of the
cliff again, followed by what sounded like angry commands, and then all
was silent for a few moments.

"Don't move," cried Ralph then. "I've sent for help. They've gone for
ropes. One will be here directly. I sent for it bef