The more I thought about going down that ladder, the more I didn't feel like going down.

Well, I felt that I had rather die than go down that ladder.

I'm honest in this.

I felt like jumping off and committing suicide rather than go down that ladder.
I crossed right over the frightful chasm, but when forbearance ceased to be a virtue, I tremblingly put my foot on the first rung, then grabbed the top of the two projections.

There I remained, I don't know how long, but after awhile I reached down with one foot and touched the next rung.
After getting that foot firmly placed, I ventured to risk the other foot.
It was thus for several backward steps, until I come to see down--away down, down, down below me--and my head got giddy.