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were once more nearly exhaustedindeed； one had gone
out bodily and the other was jumping up and down as
the flame of a lamp does when the oil is done。 So； by
the aid of its dying light； we hastened to crawl out
of the little chamber and clamber up the side of the
great stone。
As we did so the light went out。 The difference in our
position was a sufficiently remarkable one。 Below； in
the little chamber； we had only heard the roaring of
the gale overheadhere； lying on our faces on the
swinging stone； we were exposed to its full force and
fury； as the great draught drew first from this
direction and then from that； howling against the
mighty precipice and through the rocky cliffs like ten
thousand despairing souls。 We lay there hour after
hour in terror and misery of mind so deep that I will
not attempt to describe it； and listened to the wild
storm…voices of that Tartarus； as； set to the deep
undertone of the spur opposite； against which the wind
hummed like some awful harp； they called to each other
from precipice to precipice。 No nightmare dreamed by
man； no wild invention of the romancer； can ever equal
the living horror of that place； and the weird crying
of those voices of the night； as we clung like
shipwrecked mariners to a raft； and tossed on the
black； unfathomed wilderness of air。 Fortunately the
temperature was not a low one； indeed； the wind was
warm； or we should have perished。 So we clung and
listened； and while we were stretched out upon the
rock a thing happened which was so curious and
suggestive in itself； though doubtless a mere
coincidence； that； if anything； it added to； rather
than deducted from； the burden on our nerves。
It will be remembered that when Ayesha was standing on
the spur； before we crossed to the stone； the wind
tore her cloak from her； and whirled it away into the
darkness of the gulf； we could not see whither。 Well
I hardly like to tell the story； it is so strange。 As
we lay there upon the rocking…stone； this very cloak
came floating out of the black space； like a memory
from the dead； and fell on Leoso that it covered him
nearly from head to foot： We could not at first make
out what it was； but soon discovered by its feel； and
then poor Leo； for the first time； gave way； and I
heard him sobbing there upon the stone。 No doubt the
cloak had been caught upon some pinnacle of the cliff；
and was thence blown hither by a chance gust； but
still； it was a most curious and touching incident。
Shortly after this； suddenly； without the slightest
previous warning； the great red knife of light came
stabbing the darkness through and throughstruck the
swaying stone on which we were； and rested its sharp
point upon the spur opposite。
〃Now for it；〃 said Leo； 〃now or never。〃
We rose and stretched ourselves； and looked at the
cloud…wreaths stained the color of blood by that red
ray as they tore through the sickening depths beneath；
and then at the empty space between the swaying stone
and the quivering rock； and； in our hearts； despaired；
and prepared for death。 Surely we could not clear it
desperate though we were。
〃Who is to go first？〃 said I。
〃Do you； old fellow；〃 answered Leo。 〃I will sit upon
the other side of the stone to steady it。 You must
take as much run as you can； and jump high； and God
have mercy on us； say I。〃
I acquiesced with a nod； and then I did a thing I had
never done since Leo was a little boy。 I turned and
put my arm round him； and kissed him on the forehead。
It sounds rather French； but as a fact I was taking my
last farewell of a man whom I could not have loved
more if he had been my own son twice over。
〃Good…bye； my boy；〃 I said； 〃I hope that we shall meet
again； wherever it is that we go to。〃
The fact was I did not expect to live another two
minutes。
Next I retreated to the far side of the rock； and
waited till one of the chopping gusts of wind got
behind me； and then； commending my soul to God； I ran
the length of the huge stone； some three or four and
thirty feet； and sprang wildly out into the dizzy air。
Oh！ the sickening terrors that I felt as I launched
myself at that little point of rock； and the horrible
sense of despair that shot through my brain as I
realized that I had _i_ jumped short _i_ 。 But so it
was； my feet never touched the point； they went down
into space； only my hands and body came in contact
with it。 I gripped at it with a yell； but one hand
slipped； and I swung right round； holding by the
other； so that I faced the stone from which I had
sprung。 Wildly I stretched up with my left hand； and
this time managed to grasp a hob of rock； and there I
hung in the fierce red light； with thousands of feet
of empty air beneath me。 My hands were holding to
either side of the under part of the spur； so that its
point was touching my head。 Therefore； even if I could
have found the strength； I could not pull myself up。
The most that I could do would be to hang for about a
minute； and then drop down； down into the bottomless
pit。 If any man can imagine a more hideous position；
let him speak！ All I know is that the torture of that
half…minute nearly turned my brain。
I heard Leo give a cry； and then suddenly saw him in
mid…air springing up and out like a chamois。 It was a
splendid leap that he took under the influence of his
terror and despair； clearing the horrible gulf as
though it were nothing； and； landing well on to the
rocky point； he threw himself upon his face； to
prevent his pitching off into the depths。 I felt the
spur above me shake beneath the shock of his impact；
and as it did so I saw the huge rocking…stone； that
had been violently depressed by him as he sprang； fly
back when relieved of his weight till； for the first
time during all these centuries； it got beyond its
balance； and fell with a most awful crash right into
the rocky chamber which had once served the
philosopher Noot for a hermitage； as I have no doubt
forever hermetically sealing the passage that leads to
the Place of Life with some hundreds of tons of rock。
All this happened in a second； and curiously enough；
notwithstanding my terrible position； I noted it
involuntarily； as it were。 I even remember thinking
that no human being would go down that dread path
again。
Next instant I felt Leo seize me by the right wrist
with both hands。 By lying flat on the point of rock he
could just reach me。
〃You must let go and swing yourself clear；〃 he said；
in a calm and collected voice； 〃and then I will try
and pull you up； or we will both go together。 Are you
ready？〃
By way of answer I let go； first with my left hand and
then with the right； and swayed out as a consequence
clear of the overshadowing rock； my weight hanging
upon Leo's arms。 It was a dreadful moment。 He was a
very powerful man； I knew； but would his strength be
equal to lifting me up till I could get a hold on the
top of the spur； when owing to his position he had so
little purchase？
For a few seconds I swung to and fro； while he
gathered himself for the effort； an