As she still hung
immediately over the abyss, it was necessary to give a
gradual impetus to her weight, to enable her to gain the
landing-place. I now, therefore, commenced swinging her
to and fro, until she at length came so near the point
desired, that I clearly saw the principal difficulty was
surmounted. The necessary motion having been given to
the balance, with one vigorous and final impulsion I
dexterously contrived to deposit her several feet from
the edge of the lower rock, when, slackening the rope on
the instant, I had the inexpressible satisfaction to see
that she remained firm and stationary. The waving of her
scarf immediately afterwards (a signal previously agreed
upon), announced she had sustained no injury in this
rather rude collision with the rock, and I in turn
commenced my descent.
"Fearing to cast away the ends of the rope, lest their
weight should by any chance effect the balance of the
footing your mother had obtained, I now secured them
around my loins, and accomplishing my descent in the
customary manner, speedily found myself once more at the
side of my heart's dearest treasure.
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