For a moment I hesitated, and looked round at the crags, and the tossing, restless sea.
"I could carry you through the water, mam'zelle," said Tardif, pointing to a hand's breadth of shingle lying between the rocks, "but you will get wet.

It will be better for you to mount up here." I fastened both of my hands tightly round one of the upper rungs, before lifting my feet from the unsteady prow of the boat.

But the ladder once climbed, the rest of the ascent was easy.

I walked on up a zigzag path, cut in the face of the cliff, until I gained the summit, and sat down to wait for Tardif and his comrade.

I could not have fled to a securer hiding-place.