“Maybe it caught somewhere on the way down,” suggested Ben.
“Well, here’s the end of it anyway,” announced Dave. “And the other end must be free for I can still feel the weight of the straps and the stone.”
“Hello, down there!” shouted Roger. “Can you see the rope?”
“Yes,” answered Shadow. “Please let it down about two feet farther.”
“I can’t do that just now. I’m at the end of the rope,” answered Dave. “Just wait a few minutes, and we’ll fix you up.”
“We’ll have to tie something to it,” said Roger. “Too bad we didn’t keep one or two of those straps up here.”
“Let’s get a stout sapling and tie that to the lariat,” said Phil. “That will be even stronger than the straps.”
On the edge of the summit they had noticed a number of saplings growing, and in a few minutes they had one of these uprooted. It was ten or twelve feet in height, and plenty strong enough for the purpose intended. It was tied fast by the roots, and then they lowered it into the opening, all taking hold of the other end, so that it might not slip from them.
“All right, I’ve got the rope now,” announced Shadow, a few seconds later. “Just hold it as it is.”
“Do you think you can haul yourself up, Shadow?” asked Dave. “Or do you want us to do the hauling?”