"I shall not let you drop if I can help it. Can't you manage to get a grip on the pole with your arms?"
"If I were facing the other way, I might."
"Twist yourself. Aren't you enough of a circus man to do a contortion act as simple as that?"
Teddy thought he was. At least, he was willing to try, and he succeeded very well, throwing a firm grip about the pole.
Phil cautiously climbed above his companion. None save a trained aerial worker could have accomplished such a feat, but the Circus Boy managed it without mishap. He then made fast a rope about the pole above the place where Teddy's rope was secured, drawing it tight above a slight projection on the pole itself, where part of a knot had been left.
Phil had not secured himself as Teddy had done, but he felt no fear of falling as long as he had one arm about the pole. He might slip, but even then the principal danger to be apprehended was that he might carry Teddy down with him.
"Pass the rope about your body," directed Phil.
"Which rope?"
"My rope—this rope," answered Phil, raising and lowering the rope that Teddy might make no mistake. "If you get the wrong one you will take a fine tumble. Got it?"
"Yes."