going to climb that. No need for both of us to risk our necks, so
you wait here, and if I find anything on top I'll call you."

Ale phaen glanced at him strangely. "There's nothing up there except
a bare hillside. I've been there often. Have you anything special
in mind?"

"Heights often bring me inspiration. Sit down, and wait."

Refreshed by his sleep, Maskull immediately attacked the face of the
cliff, and took the first twenty feet at a single rush. Then it grew
precipitous, and the ascent demanded greater circumspection and
intelligence. There were few hand- or footholds: he had to reflect
before every step. On the other hand, it was sound rock, and he was
no novice at the sport. Branchspell glared full on the wall, so that
it half blinded him with its glittering whiteness.

After many doubts and pauses he drew near the top. He was hot,
sweating copiously, and rather dizzy. To reach a ledge he caught
hold of two projecting rocks, one with each hand, at the same time
scrambling upward, his legs between the rocks. The left-hand rock,
which was the larger of the two, became dislodged by his weight, and,
flying like a huge, dark shadow past his head, crashed down with a
terrifying sound to the foot of the precipice, followed by an
avalanche of smaller stones. Maskull steadied himself as well as he
could, but it was some moments before he dared to look down behind
him.

At first he could not distinguish Leehallfae. Then he caught sight
of legs and hindquarters a few feet up the cliff from the bottom. He