"Oh dear! oh dear!" whispered Esau, as he came up close behind me.
"What's the matter?"
"'Spose they pitch us head over-heels down here and go off with our
loads, what then?"
"We shouldn't be tired to-night, Esau."
"Oh, I say, don't laugh," he whispered; "it's too dreadful. What a
place to come along! Feel giddy?"
"No; don't talk about it," I replied quickly, for the idea was too
horrible. But I took heart as I glanced at the loaded men, who walked
on as calmly as if there were no danger whatever, while Quong came
behind Esau, quite as coolly.
I am afraid to say at what angle the rocky wall went up above us. Esau
declared it was quite straight, which was absurd; but I believe I am
right in saying that the part along which the principal Indian led us
was as steep as it was possible for a man to make his way along, while
over and over again the rock curved right above our heads.
It was evident that we were going along a regular track, for the Indian
never hesitated. Sometimes he led the way down and down till we were
nearly close to the water, then up and up till it looked as if we were
to be led right to the top of the mighty rock wall, and out among the
mountains. But the track always led down again; and at last in the dim
twilight we found that we were close to a sheer precipice which rose out
of the water, and along which, not six feet above the torrent, the
leader began to make his way sidewise, his face to the rock, his arms
extended, and his feet supported by a ledge formed by the bottom part of
the vast rock projecting a little beyond the upper.
The ledge at its widest was not five inches across, and as I saw first
one Indian and then another hang our packs away from them and begin
creeping along that ledge, clinging by their outstretched hands, I fully
expected to see them fall headlong into the boiling torrent and be swept
away. My palms grew moist, my eyes dilated, so that there was a painful
aching sensation as if they were strained, and I felt as though I should
like to run away, and at the same time so fascinated that I was obliged
to watch them.
At last I turned shudderingly away, and then caught sight of my
companions, to see that Gunson was holding on to a piece of rock with
one hand, while he reached forward to watch the men, every feature
intent, and his shaggy brows knit, and his upper teeth displayed as he
pressed them on his lower lip. Esau had his eyes close shut and his
face wrinkled up into a grin, as if he were in pain. And there just
behind him was Quong, seated on a projecting stone, looking straight
away before him, as if he were gazing at his home in China, blinking,
dreamy, and paying not the least heed to the danger of the men or to
that which was to come for us all.
There was another present--the last Indian, who stood like a bronze
statue, resting upon the sheaf of spears he held, and watching us all
curiously, as if noting our manner, and trying to read our thoughts.
Not a slip, not a moment's hesitation. The Indians went on, with our
packs threatening to drag them off the ledge into the river; but these
were only threats, and we watched till they had nearly reached the end
of the ledge, where I saw the leader pass round a projection and
disappear.
"I say," whispered Esau, "tell me when they are all safe."