He took them in a cautious circuit outside the Quette d'Amont, the
eastern sentinel of L'Etat, and so, with shipped oars, by means of his
single scull astern, brought them deftly to the riven black ledges round
the corner on the south side.
It is a precarious landing at best, and the after scramble up the
crumbling slope calls for caution even in the light of day. In that
misleading darkness, clinging with his hands and climbing on the sides
of his feet, and starting at startled feathered things that squawked and
fluttered from under his groping hands and feet, Gard found it no easy
matter to follow Nance, though she carried a great bundle and waited for
him every now and again. When he looked down next day upon the way they
had come he marvelled that they had ever reached the top in safety.
"Wait here!" she said at last, when they had attained a somewhat level
place, and before he had breath for a word she was away down again.
She was back presently with another bundle, and he started when she
thrust into his hands a long gun, and bade him pick up the first bundle
and follow her.
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