“I guess you had better do it if you can,” answered the youth below. “That tumble made me kind of weak and shaky.”
“Then strap yourself good and tight,” answered Roger. “See to it that the lariat won’t slip from the straps, either.”
It was almost dark at the bottom of the hollow into which Shadow had tumbled. He was in water up to his ankles. But this the unfortunate youth did not mind, for the stream had enabled him to bathe his hurts and obtain a refreshing drink. Now he lost no time in fastening one of the large straps around his waist, and to this he attached the lariat by a firm knot. Then, to make assurance doubly sure, he tied another of the straps to the rope and around his left wrist.
“Now I’m ready!” he shouted to those above. “But do be careful and don’t send any rocks or dirt down on my head!” His hat had fallen off and into the stream, but he had recovered it, and was now using it as a protection for his head.
“We’ll be as careful as we can,” announced Dave. “If anything goes wrong, shout out at once.”
It had been decided that Dave and Roger should haul up on the sapling and the lariat; and while they were doing this, Ben and Phil were to hold fast to them in order to prevent any of the party from going over the brink.
Soon the sapling came out of the opening, and then the lariat came up inch by inch.
“Are you all right, Shadow?” demanded our hero, when about half of the rope had been pulled up.
“All right, so far,” was the gasped-out answer. “For gracious’ sake, don’t let me drop!”
“Don’t worry,” answered Roger. And then he added to Ben: “Just carry the sapling back and stick it between those rocks, then we’ll be sure that the rope can’t slip.”