“But we must leave it,” said Saxe, with a laugh, for he was in the highest spirits now. “We can’t get it down.”
“Indeed!” said Dale. “I think I provided for that;” and taking hold of the bottom, he gave the rope a sharp shake, sending a wave along it which snatched the loop from the projection, and the strong hempen line dropped at their feet.
“I hardly expected that,” cried Saxe, proceeding to coil it up; “but it will be a terrible job to get it there again.”
“We shall see,” said Dale, as the loop was unfastened, the end twisted about the coil, and he once more threw it over his shoulder, after resuming his coat. “Now for camp. I little expected to make such a discovery when we started. Saxe, we shall have to pitch our tent up here when Melchior comes back.”
“In this gloomy crack? Why, there will be no food for Gros!”
“Nor for us unless we bring it. I dare say we shall manage; but Melchior will be disappointed when he finds that we have made the discovery without his help.”
As he spoke Dale looked up the gorge toward the sky, scanning the jagged edges of the summit.
“I hope no one has been watching us,” he said. “It would not be very pleasant to find that any one has been spying all our actions, ready to take advantage of our find. There, come along! We cannot stop to watch the place, even if we felt this had been the case, for we’ve a long journey back out of this place, and then down the glacier home.”
They began their arduous descent of the rugged place, Saxe walking behind, till Dale stopped by where the water, which had been gurgling along out of sight, rose now to the surface, so that they could obtain a refreshing draught.
As Saxe rose from his knees and wiped the drops from his mouth, he looked at Dale curiously.