Good heavens, Branny--I have just realized that your question had flown right out of my head by the time I made my first post above; sorry, Sweetie.
What is more dangerous, dangerous or perilous?
 Perilous. Dangerous has been watered down to where it can mean a very small degree of risk. Perilous, on the other hand, almost always means a high risk of physical -- well, peril.
Though with both it's best to take the meaning from the context.