That had helped some. Thankfully. (He would have looked rather awkward if it hadn’t.)
Thankfully, too, there was little room to think of else than getting them out of this situation, all Conall’s efforts best focussed on propelling them closer as efficiently as possible. She had fared well enough to get most of the way, but being here was not yet being back on deck, and he drew a weary breath when she protested about the climb.
He glanced up and back at her, deciding he had better not risk trying to carry her up herself. Instead, he nodded at her, understandingly, and ran the rope through his hands, refastening it firmly around her instead. “You’re alright,” he murmured to her - lest she think he was abandoning her to the water - and then he grasped at the line where it lay against the ship, and began to haul himself up the side.
He did not feel as nimble in practice as he had in theory, but if he had managed to scale waterfalls in the Amazon and rock-faces in Australia to catch a glimpse of a rare bird, he had a nonchalant faith in his ability to climb a few metres, and when he had reached the top successfully, he allowed himself little more than a breath before turning to look down. Fortunately at this point some of the ship’s crew had assembled to be of use, and began reeling in the rope, hoisting Miss Fairchild up with it as though they’d caught a particularly large cod.
Still, when she had just about reached the edge where the railing had betrayed them, Conall leant over to offer an outstretched hand in order to silently pull her up the last of the way, deciding he would only feel a prickle of relief when she had her feet safely planted on deck again.
Thankfully, too, there was little room to think of else than getting them out of this situation, all Conall’s efforts best focussed on propelling them closer as efficiently as possible. She had fared well enough to get most of the way, but being here was not yet being back on deck, and he drew a weary breath when she protested about the climb.
He glanced up and back at her, deciding he had better not risk trying to carry her up herself. Instead, he nodded at her, understandingly, and ran the rope through his hands, refastening it firmly around her instead. “You’re alright,” he murmured to her - lest she think he was abandoning her to the water - and then he grasped at the line where it lay against the ship, and began to haul himself up the side.
He did not feel as nimble in practice as he had in theory, but if he had managed to scale waterfalls in the Amazon and rock-faces in Australia to catch a glimpse of a rare bird, he had a nonchalant faith in his ability to climb a few metres, and when he had reached the top successfully, he allowed himself little more than a breath before turning to look down. Fortunately at this point some of the ship’s crew had assembled to be of use, and began reeling in the rope, hoisting Miss Fairchild up with it as though they’d caught a particularly large cod.
Still, when she had just about reached the edge where the railing had betrayed them, Conall leant over to offer an outstretched hand in order to silently pull her up the last of the way, deciding he would only feel a prickle of relief when she had her feet safely planted on deck again.
