It broke, in the blow; but not before its impact had well-nigh destroyed Lad's precarious balance.
One clawing hindfoot found toe-room in a flaw of rock.

A tremendous heave of all his strained muscles; and Lad was scrambling to safety on the ledge.
Cyril's last atom of vigor and resistance had gone into that panic blow at the dog.

Now, the child had flung himself helplessly down, against the wall of the ledge; and was weeping in delirious hysterics.

Lad moved over to him; hesitated a moment, looking wistfully upward at the solid ground above.

Then, he seemed to decide which way his duty pointed.