and now he was committed , with his feet scrabbling for foot holds , crombies bulk above him and a good solid rope around him ; digging into his flesh , almost dislocating his shoulders , any moment now he would slip out the noose and his sweaty hands wouldnt be able to hold the rope and he would fall and he wouldnt be killed outright and crombie couldnt scramble down cliffs because he wasnt built for it .