taken. The warders of the prison felt that they would all be
disgraced if they could not take their prisoner alive. Yet who
would get round that perilous ledge in the face of such an
adversary? A touch to any man while climbing there would send him
headlong down among the wave! And then his fancy told to each what
might be the nature of an embrace with such an animal as that,
driven to despair, hopeless of life, armed, as they knew, at any
rate, with a knife! If the first adventurous spirit should succeed
in crawling round that ledge, what would be the reception which he
might expect in the terrible depth of that cavern?

They called to their prisoner, bidding him come out, and telling him
that they would fire in upon him if he did not show himself; but not
a sound was heard. It was indeed possible that they should send
their bullets to, perhaps, every corner of the cavern; and if so, in
that way they might slaughter him; but even of this they were not
sure. Who could tell that there might not be some protected nook in
which he could lay secure? And who could tell when the man was
struck, or whether he were wounded?

"I will get to him," said Morton, speaking with a low dogged voice,
and so saying he clambered up to the rock to which Danny Lund had
pointed. Many voices at once attempted to restrain him, and one or
two put their hands upon him to keep him back, but he was too quick
for them, and now stood upon the ledge of rock. "Can you see him?"
they asked below.

"I can see nothing within the cavern," said Morton.

"Look down very hard, Massa," said Danny, "very hard indeed, down in