“It is terrible to-night. I must go myself.”
“You—uncle? Why, the place would hardly bear a man of your weight, and I couldn’t hold you up if you slipped.”
“Could you reach the edge of the shutter?”
“No, uncle, not by far enough.”
“That was as far as I could reach, too. We must give it up and risk everything.”
Tom gave his uncle a droll look, the light from the lantern shining dimly on his face.
“We can’t give it up, uncle. I’ll try again when the wind is not so strong.”
“But you could not reach, boy, and I dare not loose my hold even for a minute.”
“’Tis awkward,” shouted Tom; “but we must do something. Stop a minute: I know. Rope.”
“Yes, of course, the new strong rope in the bottom of the tool-chest.”