“Is it long enough?—is it long enough?” he muttered, as he rapidly passed the rope through his hands, Saxe giving a side glance from time to time as he picked away.
Down went the whole length of the guide’s line, and the knot passed Dale’s hands, after which the weight was sufficient to draw down the new rope, whose rings uncoiled rapidly, and, as their number grew fewer, Saxe breathed hard, and he echoed Dale’s words, “Will it be long enough?”
The last coil but three—the last coil but two—the last coil but one—the last coil; and Dale’s nervous right hand closed upon the very end, and he went close to the brink and looked down at the light.
“Can you reach it?” he shouted.
There was a pause, and then the voice came up—
“No! Lower a little more.”
Dale groaned. Then, lying down, he held his hands close to the edge, giving quite another three feet to the length.
“Can you reach it now?”
“No.”
“How far off is it above you?”