Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/51

Rh and, seeing him draw back, added eagerly, ‘you must not—you dare not—let them find me here like this.’

"‘In a few moments they had reached the bridge. She laid her hands upon the wire rope.

"‘See,’ she said, ‘it is tough and thick; it is strong enough to bear a dozen men. Let us tie ourselves together like the Alpine climbers, and we shall feel more safe. See, I brought this in case I should want it.’

"She drew a rope out of her pocket and slipped a noose beneath his arms, across his chest, and tied the other end around her waist. Then she laughed. ‘If I slip you can hold me, and if you lose your footing I can help you.’

"‘But the wire is not safe for the two together,’ the man said, though to him the mere contact of some one near, even thus united, made him more courageous than when he went alone. He felt the wire rope; it seemed firm and stout enough. It had not started or snapped a strand when he came over, and surely there was not much danger if only they held tight.