Between the turf-covered slope and the gigantic perpendicular rock intervened a weather-worn series of jagged edges,forming a face yet steeper than the former slope.As he slowly slid inch by inch upon these,Knight made a last desperate dash at the lowest tuft of vegetation--the last outlying knot of starved herbage ere the rock appeared in all its bareness.It arrested his further descent.Knight was now literally suspended by his arms;but the incline of the brow being what engineers would call about a quarter in one,it was sufficient to relieve his arms of a portion of his weight,but was very far from offering an adequately flat face to support him.
In spite of this dreadful tension of body and mind,Knight found time for a moment of thankfulness.Elfride was safe.
She lay on her side above him--her fingers clasped.Seeing him again steady,she jumped upon her feet.
Now,if I can only save you by running for help!she cried.
Oh,I would have died instead!Why did you try so hard to deliver me?And she turned away wildly to run for assistance.
Elfride,how long will it take you to run to Endelstow and back?
Three-quarters of an hour.
That wont do;my hands will not hold out ten minutes.And is there nobody nearer?
No;unless a chance passer may happen to be.
He would have nothing with him that could save me.Is there a pole or stick of any kind on the common?
She gazed around.The common was bare of everything but heather and grass.
A minute--perhaps more time--was passed in mute thought by both.
On a sudden the blank and helpless agony left her face.She vanished over the bank from his sight.
Knight felt himself in the presence of a personalized lonliness.