“There’s quite enough,” cried Fred, as he rapidly set the stone loose, and tied the line to the rope’s end. “Now, then, haul away.”
“No, no, my lad; I tell you it won’t bear you. You’d only have a nasty tumble.”
“Haul!”
“And I shall be blamed.”
“Will you haul? Oh, only wait till I come up!”
Samson gave quite a snatch at the line, and drew it up rapidly, while the boys waited to hear what he would say when he found their meaning.
“Why couldn’t you have said as you meanted that!” he grumbled. “I see now. Want me to make this here fast to the pole.”
“Yes, of course; then we can climb up.”
“To be sure you can. I see now.”
“Make it quite fast, Samson.”