said Joses. "He's hurt in his head,
that's what's the matter with him."

"By the bears' claws?"

"No, my lad, they didn't hurt him. He's frit."

"Frightened?" said Bart.

"Yes! He's lost his nerve, and daren't move."

"Let's say a few encouraging words to him."

"You may say thousands, and they won't do no good," said Joses. "He's
got the fright and badly too."

"But the bears are gone?"

"Ay, that they are, my lad; but the fall's there, and that's what he's
afraid of. I've seen men look like that before now, when climbing up
mountains."

"But it would be so easy to get back, Joses. I could do it directly."

"So could he if he hadn't lost his nerve. Now what's to be done?"

"Shall I creep out to him?" said Bart eagerly.

"What, you? what good would it do? You don't think you could carry him
back like a baby?"

"No," said Bart, "but I might help him."

"You couldn't help him a bit," growled Joses, "nor more could I. All
the good you could do would be to make him clutch you and then down both
would go at once, and what's the use of that."

"If we had brought a lasso with us."

"Well, if we had," said Joses, "and could fasten it round him, I don't
believe we could haul him off, for he'd only cling all the tighter, and
perhaps drag us over the side."

"What is to be done then?" said Bart. "Here, Sam, make an effort, my
lad. Creep back; it's as easy as can be. Don't be afraid. Here, I
will come to you."

He threw down his gun, and before Joses could stop him, he climbed out
to the projecting limb, and letting his legs go down on either side,
worked himself along till he was close behind Sam, whom he slapped on
the back.

"There," cried Bart. "It's easy enough. Don't think of how deep down
it is. Now I'm going back. You do the same. Come along."

As he spoke and said encouraging things to Sam, Bart felt himself
impelled to gaze down into the depths beneath him, and as he did so, the
dashing bravery that had impelled him to risk his life that he might
encourage his follower to creep back, all seemed to forsake him, a cold
perspiration broke out on face and limbs, accompanied by a horrible
paralysing sense of fear, and in an instant he was suffering from the
same loss of nerve as the man whom he wished to help.

Bart's hands clutched at the rough branch, and he strove to drive his
finger nails into the bark in a spasmodic effort to save himself from
death. He was going to fall. He