This grew as we drew near; till finally at the entrance of the valley he halted and refused to go further.

He said he would await our return if we chose to go on alone.

That he would wait three days; but if by that time we had not returned he would leave.

No offer of money would tempt him to depart from this resolution.

The only concession he would make was that he would find the ladders and bring them near the cliff.