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was absolutely black； and at what depth it ended is
more than I can guess。 Above were space upon space of
giddy air； and far； far away a line of blue sky。 And
down this vast gulf upon which we were pinnacled the
great draught dashed and roared； driving clouds and
misty wreaths of vapor before it； till we were nearly
blinded and utterly confused。
The whole position was so tremendous and so absolutely
unearthly that I believe it actually lulled our sense
of terror； but to this hour I often see it in my
dreams； and wake up covered with cold perspiration at
its mere fantasy。
〃On！ on！〃 cried the white form before us； for now the
cloak had gone _i_ She _i_ was robed in white； and
looked more like a spirit riding down the gale than a
woman； 〃On； or ye will fall and be dashed to pieces。
Keep your eyes fixed upon the ground； and closely hug
the rock。〃
We obeyed her； and crept painfully along the quivering
path； against which the wind shrieked and wailed as it
shook it； causing it to murmur like a vast tuning…
fork。 On we went； I do not know for how long； only
gazing round now and again； when it was absolutely
necessary； until at last we saw that we were on the
very tip of the spur； a slab of rock little larger
than an ordinary table； and that throbbed and jumped
like any over…engined steamer。 There we lay on our
stomachs； clinging to the ground； and looked about us；
while Ayesha stood leaning out against the wind； down
which her long hair streamed； and； absolutely heedless
of the hideous depth that yawned beneath； pointed
before her。 Then we saw why the narrow plank； which
Job and I had painfully dragged along between us； had
been provided。 Before us was an empty space； on the
other side of which was something； as yet we could not
see what； for here either owing to the shadow of the
opposite cliff； or from some other cause…the gloom was
that of night。
〃We must wait awhile；〃 called Ayesha； 〃soon there will
be light。〃
At the moment I could not imagine what she meant。 How
could more light than there was ever come to this
dreadful spot？ While I was still debating in my mind；
suddenly； like a great sword of flame； a beam from the
setting sun pierced the Stygian gloom； and smote upon
the point of rock whereon we lay illumining Ayesha's
lovely form with an unearthly splendor。 I only wish
that I could describe the wild and marvellous beauty
of that sword of fire； laid across the darkness and
rushing mist…wreaths of the gulf。 How it got there I
do not to this moment know； but I presume that there
was some cleft or hole in the opposing cliff； through
which it。 pierced when the setting orb was in a direct
line therewith。 All I say is； that the effect was the
most wonderful that I ever saw。 Right through the
heart of the darkness that flaming sword was stabbed；
and where it lay there was the most surpassingly vivid
light； so vivid that even at a distance one could see
the grain of the rock； while； outside of ityes；
within a few inches of its keen edgewas naught but
clustering shadows。
And now； by this ray of light； for which _i_ She _i_
had been waiting； and timed our arrival to meet；
knowing that at this season for thousands of years it
had always struck thus at sunset； we saw what was
before us。 Within eleven or twelve feet of the very
tip of the tongue…like rock whereon we stood there
arose； presumably from the far bottom of the gulf； a
sugar loaf…shaped cone； of which the summit was
exactly opposite to us。 But had there been a summit
only it would not have helped us much； for the nearest
point of its circumference was some forty feet from
where we were。 On the lip of this summit； however；
which was circular and hollow； rested a tremendous
flat stone； something like a glacier stoneperhaps it
was one； for all I know to the contraryand the end
of this stone approached to within twelve feet or so
of us。 This huge boulder was nothing more or less than
a gigantic rocking…stone； accurately balanced upon the
edge of the cone or miniature crater； like a half
crown on the rim of a wineglass； for； in the fierce
light that played upon it and us； we could see it
oscillating in the gusts of wind。
〃Quick！〃 said Ayesha； 〃the plankwe must cross while
the light endures； presently it will be gone。〃
〃Oh； Lord； sir！〃 groaned Job； 〃surely she don't mean
us to walk across that there place on that there
thing；〃 as in obedience to my direction he pushed the
long board towards me。
〃That's it； Job；〃 I halloaed； in ghastly merriment；
though the idea of walking the plank was no pleasanter
to me than to him。
I pushed the board on to Ayesha； who deftly ran it
across the gulf so that one end of it rested on the
rocking…stone； the other remaining on the extremity of
the trembling spur。 Then； placing her foot upon it to
prevent it from being blown away； she turned to me。
〃Since last I was here； O Holly；〃 she called； 〃the
support of the moving stone hath lessened somewhat； so
that I am not sure if it will bear our weight and fall
or not。 Therefore will I cross first； because no harm
will come unto me；〃 and； without further ado； she trod
lightly but firmly across the frail bridge； and in
another second was standing safe upon the heaving
stone。
〃It is safe；〃 she called。 〃See； hold thou the plank！ I
will stand on the farther side of the stone so that it
may not overbalance with your greater weights。 Now
come； O Holly； for presently the light will fail us。〃
I struggled to my knees； and if ever I felt sick in my
life I felt sick then； and I am not ashamed to say
that I hesitated and hung back。
〃Surely thou art not afraid；〃 called this strange
creature in a lull of the gale； from where she stood；
poised like a bird on the highest point of the rocking
stone。 〃Make then way for Kallikrates。〃
This settled me； it is better to fall down a precipice
and die than to be laughed at by such a woman； so I
clinched my teeth； and in another instant I was on
that horrible； narrow； bending plank； with bottomless
space beneath and around me。 I have always hated a
great height； but never before did I realize the full
horrors of which such a position is capable。 Oh； the
sickening sensation of that yielding board resting on
the two moving supports。 I grew dizzy； and thought
that I must fall； my spine crept； it seemed to me that
I was falling； and my delight at finding myself
sprawling upon that stone； which rose and fell beneath
me like a boat in a swell； cannot be expressed in
words。 All I know is that briefly； but earnestly
enough； I thanked Providence for preserving me so far。
Then came Leo's turn； and； though he looked rather
queer； he came across like a rope…dancer。 Ayesha
stretched out her hand to clasp his own； and I heard
her say； 〃Bravely done； my lovebravely done！ The old
Greek spirit lives in thee yet！〃
And now only poor Job remained on the farther side of
the gulf。 He crept up to the plank； and yelled out； 〃I
can't do it； sir。 I shall fall into that beastly
place。〃
〃You must；〃 I remember saying with inappropriate
facetiousness〃you must； Job； it's as easy as
catching flies。〃 I suppose that I said it to satisfy
my conscience； because although the expression conveys
a wonderful idea of facility； as a matter of fact I
know no more difficult operation in the whole world
than catching fliesthat is； in warm weather； unless；
indeed； it is catching mosquitoes。
〃I can't； sirI can't； indeed。
〃Let the man come； or let him stop and perish there。
See； the light is dying！ In a moment it will be gone！〃
said Ayesha。
I looked。 _i_ She _i_ was right。 The sun was passing
below the level of the hole or cleft in the precipice
through which the ray reached us。
〃If you stop there； Job； you will die alone；〃 I
called； 〃the light is going。〃
〃Come； be a man； Job；〃 roared Leo； 〃it's quite easy。〃
Thus adjured； the miserable Job； with a most awful
yell； precipitated himself face downwards on the
plankhe did not dare； small blame to him； to try to
walk it； and commenced to draw himself across in
little jerks； his poor legs hanging down on either
side into the nothingness beneath。
His violent jerks at the frail board made the great
stone； which was only balanced on a few inches of
rock； oscillate in a most sickening manner； and； to
make matters worse； when he was half…way across the
flying ray of lurid light suddenly went out； just as
though a lamp had been extinguished in a curtained
room； leaving the whole howling wilderness of air
black with darkness。
〃Come on； Job； for God's sake！〃 I shouted； in an agony
of fear； while the stone； gathering motion with every
swing； rocked so violently that it was difficult to
hang on to it。 It was a truly awful position。
〃Lord have mercy on me！〃 cried poor Job from the
darkness。 〃Oh； the plank's slipping！〃 and I heard a
violent struggle； and thought that he was gone。
But at that moment his outstretched hand； clasping in
agony at the air； met my own； and I hauledah； how I
did haul； putting out all the strength that it