He cleared the sheet, and was free to return, slightly downhill now, along the halyards to the mast.

But he had lost his nerve.

Unsafe as was his present position, he was loath to forsake it for the more unsafe position on the halyards.
He looked along the airy path he must traverse, and then down to the deck.

His eyes were wide and staring, and he was trembling violently.

I had never seen fear so strongly stamped upon a human face.