"Now hold on, I'm going, I'll yell when you are to pull him up; let me
down slowly."
I did not look at them again, until I had lowered myself over the edge,
and then it was but a fleeting glance, just long enough to smile to
them, and notice their set mouths.
They lowered away slowly, almost too slowly for me, as it was a most
unpleasant rock to look at, and I did not care to glance down more than
was absolutely necessary. It was also an unpleasant feeling to swing in
the air, with just a thin rope between you and eternity; however, little
by little I went down, keeping myself away from the cliff with my left
hand, and untied foot.
When I judged that the ledge must be near, I looked down. I was about
six feet from it; two minutes, and I was level. I yelled, and at once
my descent was arrested.
The ledge was infernally narrow, and at first I did not see how to
manage. By cautiously edging along, however, I was enabled to stand
astride of Piotr's body, although one foot had perforce to rest upon the
tree, which caused creaking sounds of a most discomforting nature. I
removed my foot from the noose.
Piotr's legs hung down, dangling over space, I could see that one was
broken; he was moaning faintly, and trying to move his arm. It was an
extremely difficult business, getting the rope underneath him, but with
patience and a great deal of care it was done; and I drew it tight under
his arm-pits. It seemed then that nothing remained but to give them the
signal to hoist; but just as I was going to yell the thought flashed
across me that, if he struggled and threw up his arms, the rope might
slip, then it would be all up for both of us, for it was certain that,
in falling, he would drag or knock me off the perch as well.
This required thought, as Mr. Neville so often reminded me; and I
wondered what could be done to fasten his arms down.
Beneath his embroidered waistcoat he was wearing the scarf or sash of
the mountaineer. Down again I bent, and started to get it loose; an
ugly looking knife was still tucked into it, this, as I pulled, fell
out, and went glistening down into the trees beneath. I remember
thinking it was lucky there was nobody there for it to fall on, and I
believe I grinned; but an extra crack from the tree made me serious
again.
By dint of pulling, I got the sash unwound; and with it fastened his
arms as I desired, above the elbow, securely to his sides. He was safe
now, but how was I to keep clear of his body as he rose? I looked up,
Carruther's face was peering down at me.
"Are you all right, Splosh?"
"Yes, I'm all right. Wait half a minute, and then you can begin to
haul."
I heard what seemed like a number of voices talking, but avoided looking
up again; instead, I did the only thing which seemed to me possible; I
yelled, and felt the rope tighten, saw Piotr gradually assume a sitting
posture. Then, while I still had the rope to assist me, I slipped over,
and hung by my hands to the edge. It was only for a little time, for as
soon as I saw our guide's body swing clear I pulled myself up again; it
was lucky I had gone in for gymnastics. I sat on the ledge sideways; it
was the only way to sit, and beastly uncomfortable. By using the
greatest caution, I was enabled to pull a small flask, which I always
carried, from my pocket; a drink from this did me good as I had been
feeling rather dizzy.
"Hullo! hullo! Splosh!"
I looked up again, there was a row of heads where only Carruthers' had
been before.
"Hullo!" I called back. "Is the rope ready?"
"It is coming down now, old chap; be careful."
The heads were still there, swarthy, wild looking faces peered down at
me. I grinned, and shouted "Good day" in Rudarlian, and they laughed as
they answered me. Cheerful chaps, but where the devil had they come
from?
The ascent was infinitely nicer than the descent, the face of the cliff
appeared almost rosy and kind. I felt as brave as possible now, whereas
before I had had my heart in my boots. Strong hands seized me on the
edge; and in a moment I was up on the pathway again, with my companions
each shaking a hand, as though we had been parted for years.
I certainly was astonished to see the men who surrounded us; the best
that could be said of them was that they were all smiling, but each man
was a walking arsenal. They were not the sort of men I should have
chosen as companions for a pleasant Sunday afternoon.
"Friends of yours?" I said to Mr. Neville, and Carruthers roared.
"Not yet, but certainly I trust they will be; they came from goodness
knows where. By appearances they are brigands--not that I wish to judge
them harshly."
"Yes, by appearances they are, but how is Piotr?"
"I will look at him, if you will tell these fellows to get out of the
way."
I told the men that we would attend to Piotr, but that they must give us
room, and fetch wood for a litter. They obeyed like lambs. Three went
to seek young trees for the purpose I had named, the others stood round
in silence, save one, who came forward and offered his services; he was,
I understood, the bone-setter of the gang. Mr. Neville accepted his
offer and set to work. After an examination lasting some little time,
he said:
"It is marvellous, he has only broken a leg, and has a slight
concussion; bruised as well, of course, but not another bone broken."
"What luck! Can you set his leg between you?"
"I hope so, and before he regains his senses."
By the time the men had returned with the trees, it was done: the broken
limb had been set, and carefully bandaged in splints. A litter was
formed with the trees and sashes of some of the men and rugs thrown over
that. Upon this clever piece of work the injured man was placed
carefully, and a little brandy forced down his throat.
Then evidently a difficulty arose. The fellows began to converse among
themselves with many glances at us, shrugging of shoulders, and
expressive gestures of the hands.
There was one who was apparently the leader, and upon his face was an
expression of the utmost perplexity. He kept staring first at the
litter then at me, then at my companions and then at the litter. It
dawned upon me that their camp might be near, but that they were anxious
to avoid showing us the way; on the other hand, they could not capture
us as they had evidently intended, since we had befriended their chief.
I appreciated their dilemma and laughed, beckoned to the fellow, and
together we walked a few paces away from the others.
"You are troubled," I said. "Now which is it to be, are you going to
take us with you as enemies, or shall we part in a friendly way? For,
of course, my friends and I fully realise that the chief of a party such
as yours does not take the position of guide, unless he has some good
reason for it."
He saw that I was smiling, so he too grinned.
"Excellency, for your age you are as clear-sighted as an eagle."
"I assure you, my friend, I felt like one a few minutes ago; but tell
me, was I right in my surmise about your state of mind?"
"Your Excellency was right. We could never, however, part as enemies;
and if we let you go before our chief regains his senses----" he
shrugged his shoulders in a most expressive way.
"H'm! but we cannot remain here, can we? And you evidently would not
care to take us with you as friends; of course, to these gentlemen and
myself, the word friend means that we should never betray anything we
might happen to learn. I might suggest, too, that men blindfolded would
see nothing if led to some place carefully."
A gleam of satisfaction lit up his face.
"And would your Excellencies submit to that? It would be only for a few
minutes."
"Oh yes, and I can answer for my friends."
I was desirous of following up this little adventure, for these men were
no doubt almost driven to brigandage; and, if their demands could be
satisfied, they might become useful allies and good citizens. I was
already planning for the future.
We walked back to the others, and I informed them of what had been
arranged. Carruthers treated it as a huge joke. He knew but a few
words of Rudarlian, and proceeded to use them vigorously as we followed
the litter.
We continued our course down the path, which after a little swerved into
less close proximity to the valley below. Although still high up in the
mountain, we were beginning to be able to distinguish the natural
features of the panoramic landscape more clearly.
What struck us most was the absence of human habitations, for the valley
looked as though it would be fertile, being well watered.