"My rope's gone!" he groaned. "Yours must do the work, boy, or the man will be lost!"
I made no reply. I had felt the rope in my hands growing tighter.
"I have the rope!" came the cry. "Pull in!"
"He's got it!" I repeated. "Help me land him."
Dibble readily complied; and slowly but surely we drew in on the rope.
"Hurry up!" called the man. "I can't hold on much longer!"
"You'll be all right in a minute!" I called back. "Don't let go."
Dibble took hold of the rope with me, and held it up so that the man might have no difficulty in climbing over the rail.
Presently the unfortunate individual came in sight. I could see that he was completely exhausted.
"Give me your hand," I said to him and leaned far over the side to reach it.