Jean del' Peyra was standing scraping a staff to form a lance-shaft. The sun shone hot upon him, and at his feet lay his shadow as a blot. He was too much engrossed in his work to look about him, till he heard a voice call from somewhere above his head- "Out of the way, clown!" Then there crashed down by him a log of wood that rolled to his feet and was followed by another piece. Now only did Jean look up, and what he saw made him drop his half-finished shaft and forget it. What Jean saw was this: a girl at some distance above him on the face of the rock, swaying a long-handled hammer, with which she was striking at, and dislodging, the steps by which she had ascended, and by means of which alone could she return.