{"id":"01KG8AM62DSJQY45J2TJT8TD18","cid":"bafkreia77ew5tk62cdgabk4q7ctomvs4jjbbjfyk2oideulafsridgqkje","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":3111,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.200Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":3040,"text":"legs round it in sailor fashion, slipped down eight or ten feet, where\r\nhis weight gave it a motion not un-like that of a pendulum. He could not\r\nventure to descend any further; so holding on with one hand, he with the\r\nother shook one by one all the slender roots around him, and at last,\r\nfinding one which he thought trustworthy, shifted him self to it and\r\ncontinued his downward progress.\r\n\r\nSo far so well; but I could not avoid comparing my heavier frame and\r\ndisabled condition with his light figure and remarkable activity;\r\nbut there was no help for it, and in less than a minute’s time I was\r\nswinging directly over his head. As soon as his upturned eyes caught a\r\nglimpse of me, he exclaimed in his usual dry tone, for the danger did\r\nnot seem to daunt him in the least, ‘Mate, do me the kindness not to\r\nfall until I get out of your way;’ and then swinging himself more on\r\none side, he continued his descent. In the mean time I cautiously\r\ntransferred myself from the limb down which I had been slipping to a\r\ncouple of others that were near it, deeming two strings to my bow better\r\nthan one, and taking care to test their strength before I trusted my\r\nweight to them.\r\n\r\nOn arriving towards the end of the second stage in this vertical\r\njourney, and shaking the long roots which were round me, to my\r\nconsternation they snapped off one after another like so many pipe\r\nstems, and fell in fragments against the side of the gulf, splashing at\r\nlast into the waters beneath.\r\n\r\nAs one after another the treacherous roots yielded to my grasp, and fell\r\ninto the torrent, my heart sunk within me. The branches on which I was\r\nsuspended over the yawning chasm swang to and fro in the air, and I\r\nexpected them every moment to snap in twain. Appalled at the dreadful\r\nfate that menaced me, I clutched frantically at the only large root\r\nwhich remained near me, but in vain; I could not reach it, though my\r\nfingers were within a few inches of it. Again and again I tried to reach\r\nit, until at length, maddened with the thought of my situation, I swayed\r\nmyself violently by striking my foot against the side of the rock, and\r\nat the instant that I approached the large root caught desperately at\r\nit, and transferred myself to it. It vibrated violently under the sudden\r\nweight, but fortunately did not give way.\r\n\r\nMy brain grew dizzy with the idea of the frightful risk I had just run,\r\nand I involuntarily closed my eyes to shut out the view of the\r\ndepth beneath me. For the instant I was safe, and I uttered a devout\r\nejaculation of thanksgiving for my escape.\r\n\r\n‘Pretty well done,’ shouted Toby underneath me; ‘you are nimbler than\r\nI thought you to be--hopping about up there from root to root like any\r\nyoung squirrel. As soon as you have diverted yourself sufficiently, I\r\nwould advise you to proceed.’\r\n\r\n‘Aye, aye, Toby, all in good time: two or three more such famous roots\r\nas this, and I shall be with you.’\r\n\r\nThe residue of my downward progress was comparatively easy; the roots\r\nwere in greater abundance, and in one or two places jutting out points\r\nof rock assisted me greatly. In a few moments I was standing by the side\r\nof my companion.\r\n\r\nSubstituting a stout stick for the one I had thrown aside at the top of\r\nthe precipice, we now continued our course along the bed of the ravine.\r\nSoon we were saluted by a sound in advance, that grew by degrees\r\nlouder and louder, as the noise of the cataract we were leaving behind\r\ngradually died on our ears.\r\n\r\n‘Another precipice for us, Toby.’\r\n\r\n‘Very good; we can descend them, you know--come on.’\r\n\r\nNothing indeed appeared to depress or intimidate this intrepid fellow.\r\nTypees or Niagaras, he was as ready to engage one as the other, and I\r\ncould not avoid a thousand times congratulating myself upon having such\r\na companion in an enterprise like the present.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJQ78FJSGVW77ZGHK0KC9","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM61Z1WD0TPBT2TCN40K9","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM62DM2J6BBRVQAZMC77E","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:28.749Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:35.366Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}