"Nae fear o' that! There! ye canna fa' noo, for Blue Peter has the
other en', and Peter's as strong 's twa pownies. I'm gaein to tak
aff yer shune neist."
So saying, he lowered himself a little through the breach, holding
on by the broken wall with one hand, while he gently removed her
sandal shoes with the other. Drawing himself up again, he rose to
his feet, and taking her hand, said,
"Noo, my leddy, tak a gude grip o' my han', an' as I lift ye, gie
a scram'le wi' yer twa bit feet, an' as sune's ye fin' them aneth
ye, jist gang up as gien ye war clim'in' a gey stey brae (rather
steep ascent). Ye cudna fa' gien ye tried yer warst."
At the grasp of his strong hand the girl felt a great gush
of confidence rise in her heart; she did exactly as he told her,
scrambled to her feet, and walked up the slippery way without
one slide, holding fast by Malcolm's hand, while Joseph kept just
feeling her waist with the loop of the rope as he drew it in. When
she reached the top, she fell, almost fainting, into her father's
arms; but was recalled to herself by an exclamation from Blue Peter:
just as Malcolm relinquished her hand, his foot slipped. But he
slid down the side of the mound only some six or seven feet to the
bottom of the chamber, whence his voice came cheerily, saying he
would be with them in a moment. When, however, ascending by another
way, he rejoined them, they were shocked to see blood pouring
from his foot: he had lighted amongst broken glass, and had felt
a sting, but only now was aware that the cut was a serious one.
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