158 THE MAN WHO BROKE THE NEEDLEcould vibrate the th<strong>in</strong>g, if you rocked on it. And now, the mighty jerk our ropehad given it must have started it <strong>of</strong>f. Not towards us, luckily. The fissure slopeswest, towards the Needle Gully; <strong>and</strong> the block was creep<strong>in</strong>g that way. It slunkdown, almost imperceptibly at first, but soon faster: with a queer, frightful,gr<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g noise. And then it passed beyond its centre <strong>of</strong> gravity; <strong>and</strong> the noisestopped; <strong>and</strong> the whole th<strong>in</strong>g leaned very gently outward: <strong>and</strong> fell.It hit the rock one s<strong>in</strong>gle glanc<strong>in</strong>g blow, above the top <strong>of</strong> the crack. Then along silence — m<strong>in</strong>utes, it seemed like. And then a most almighty crash downbelow, as it struck the bed <strong>of</strong> the gully. We craned after it; we thought we'd seeit go on wallop<strong>in</strong>g down <strong>in</strong>to Wasdale. But it never budged. Just stuckembedded bottom up, <strong>in</strong> the loose scree <strong>of</strong> the gully. And a big mushroom-cloud<strong>of</strong> sunny dust spread on the still air. And Ron <strong>and</strong> I hung, gap<strong>in</strong>g down at it,<strong>and</strong> heard our own hearts beat<strong>in</strong>g.The Doctor was still laid out; his fall had w<strong>in</strong>ded him. By <strong>and</strong> by, when he satup, he got the devil <strong>of</strong> a shock to see the needle-tip wasn't there; he thought hemust be delirious — doctors are easily alarmed about themselves; dare sayyou've noticed that — but we assured him it was all correct, <strong>and</strong> he cheered up abit. And when he'd satisfied himself that he'd not smashed any ribs, we gotdown as quick as we could.We didn't say much; we were too scared; <strong>and</strong> if we'd overturned the AlbertMemorial we couldn't have felt more guilty. You see, the Needle is a sort <strong>of</strong>national monument; men come back happily to do it aga<strong>in</strong>, year after year, fromthe far ends <strong>of</strong> the earth; <strong>and</strong> now....! So we just slid the crack <strong>and</strong> dropped <strong>in</strong>tothe gully bed, <strong>and</strong> ploughed across with our eyes turned away from the greatforeign-body stick<strong>in</strong>g there, <strong>and</strong> scrambled up to the Dress-Circle aga<strong>in</strong>; <strong>and</strong>there we sat <strong>and</strong> took stock.The Needle looked pretty awful without its tip. It looked forlorn <strong>and</strong> stumpy<strong>and</strong> undignified. It looked wrongl We stared at it without speak<strong>in</strong>g. And — youknow how it is, when you've come through a nasty fright <strong>and</strong> the reaction sets<strong>in</strong>, it plays queer tricks on you. Ron began to laugh.He said: 'O lord, G.S., you've been <strong>and</strong> gone <strong>and</strong> done it now! You'll go down<strong>in</strong> history! The hik<strong>in</strong>g heavyweight! The man who left no stone unturned! Theman who crashed the old Needle! My hat, whatever will the <strong>Fell</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Rock</strong> Clubsay? Oh, G.S., you've surpassed yourself!'I couldn't see anyth<strong>in</strong>g to laugh about. I was too ashamed. I felt like that chap<strong>in</strong> the Ancient Mar<strong>in</strong>er — 'For I had done a hellish th<strong>in</strong>g' — you know thepassage I mean? And there's another tag, <strong>in</strong> scripture somewhere; it came <strong>in</strong>tomy m<strong>in</strong>d: 'Cursed is he that removeth his neighbour's l<strong>and</strong>mark. Amen!'I said: 'Oh, shut up! I've two more days' holiday; but I'm <strong>of</strong>f home to-night,before this gets out.'Ron rolled back, helplessly. 'Gets out! Hear that, Doctor? How long d'youth<strong>in</strong>k we'll keep it dark? Oh lord, I'm go<strong>in</strong>g to be sick!'Then we heard nailed boots click<strong>in</strong>g on the rocks, <strong>and</strong> three fellows hove <strong>in</strong>!2S
G. Sutton 159view; they must have been on Abbey Buttress or Arrowhead, round the corner.And when the first man came <strong>in</strong> sight <strong>of</strong> where the Needle ought to be, hestopped dead. 'Great Scott! I say, George, look here — !'Ron punched me. 'You're too late, G.S. — it's out!' And then he must needsjump up <strong>and</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t at me <strong>and</strong> say: 'He's broken the Needle!'And the newcomers glared <strong>and</strong> shook their fists at me, <strong>and</strong> said: 'The big stiff!He ought to be h<strong>and</strong>cuffed.'And Ron's voice gurgl<strong>in</strong>g: 'It's out — !'I hadn't heart enough to say anyth<strong>in</strong>g. I sat there overwhelmed with shame,with my eyes shut; I felt feeble <strong>and</strong> limp. And the voices kept on at me: 'It'sout....he's broken the Needle....ought to be h<strong>and</strong>cuffed, the big stiff.... its outVAt last I opened my eyes: <strong>and</strong> saw the accomplice grop<strong>in</strong>g on the floor, whereI'd kicked all the bag <strong>of</strong> tricks; <strong>and</strong> beside me the dentist, hold<strong>in</strong>g uptriumphantly a great pyramid <strong>of</strong> a tooth.ut