"Ha!" said Ivan. "He did it. Now watch me."
The mighty muscles of the giant strained once and the strong rope snapped. Ivan did not seem to have exerted himself.
"Now for the rest of us," said Hal.
Quickly Ivan and Nikol released the others.
"Now what?" asked Ivan.
"Now comes my work," said Hal quietly.
He moved silently to the edge of the tent and lay down flat, feeling the edges with his fingers.
"This will come up all right," he muttered to himself. "I can get out here."
He went back to the center of the tent again and enjoined the others to silence.
"Don't make a sound on your lives," he commanded sternly. "Chester, you remain right where I leave the tent and if I bring a man back with me you drag him under and see that he doesn't make a sound."