The others were all on the hunt, but Mark soon called them together. A long rope was taken from one of the mule packs and one end was allowed to slide down the incline. It came close to the spot where Si was clinging to the rocks.
"Got it?" sang out Bob.
"Not yet. Can't you let it down a few feet more?"
"Not very well."
"Then leave it as it is and I'll climb for it."
It was no easy task to reach the end of the rope, and twice poor Si thought that he would roll down into the pocket once more. But at last he had a firm hold of the lower end and he shouted for his friends to haul away, which they did, soon bringing him to the surface.
"I am glad to be on top again," said he, as he came out into the daylight.
"Be thankful you didn't break your neck," was Josiah Socket's comment.
"I am thankful."
"After this we'll have to be more than careful of where we walk," observed Mark, with a serious shake of his head. "There are some fearful pitfalls along this route."