Page 349 - The snake's pass

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THE CATASTROPHE. 337
on the other side, watching us intently. Our progress
was slow, for the rocks were steep and difficult, and we
had to keep eternally climbing up and descending the
serrated edges, where the strata lapped over each other
and besides we were chilled and numbed with cold.
At last, however, we passed the corner where was the
path down to the Cliff Fields, and turned eastwards up
the hill. Then in a little while we got well above the
ravine, which here grew shallower, and could walk on
more level ground. Here we saw that the ravine ended
in a deep cleft, whence issued a stream of water. And
then we saw hurrying up over the top of the cleft Joyce
and Dick.
Up to now, Norah and I had hardly spoken a word. Our
hearts were too full for speech ; and, indeed, we under-
stood each other, and could interpret our thoughts by a
subtler language than that formulated by man.
In another minute Norah was clasped in her father's
arms. He held her close, and kissed her, and cried
over her ; whilst Dick wrung my hand hard. Then
Joyce left his daughter, and came and flung his arms
round me, and thanked God that I had escaped; whilst
Norah went up to Dick, and put her arms round him,
and kissed him as a sister might.
We all went back together as fast as we could; and
the sun that rose that morning rose on no happier group
—despite the terror and the trouble of the night. Norah
walked between her father and me, holding us both
tightly, and Dick walked on my other side with his arm