Joe Simpson and Simon Yates were the first people to climb the West Face of the Siula Grande in the Andes mountains. They reached the top1, but on their way back conditions were very difficult. Joe fell and broke his leg. They both knew that if Simon2alone, he would probably get back safely. But Simon decided to risk his3and try to lower Joe down the mountain on a rope(绳).
As they4down, the weather got worse. Then another trouble occurred. They couldn't see or hear each other and,5, Simon lowered his friend over the edge of a precipice (峭壁). It was6for Joe to climb back or for Simon to pull him up. Joe's7was pulling Simon slowly towards the precipice.8after more than an hour in the dark and the icy-cold, Simon had to9. In tears, he cut the rope. Joe10into a large crevasse (裂缝) in the ice below. He had no food or water and he was in terrible pain. He couldn't walk, but he11to get out of the crevasse and started to move towards their camp, nearly ten kilometers away.
Simon had12the camp at the foot of the mountain. He thought that Joe must be13, but he didn't want to leave14. Three days later, in the middle of the night, he heard Joe's voice. He couldn't15it. Joe was there, a few meter's from their tent, still alive.
