He tried the rope, as if to make sure that it would hold his weight, never considering that a much larger man had just swung on the same rope; and it was with a sensation that he had never before experienced, that he grasped it firmly and swung off. He soon found himself beside the old trapper, who said:
"Yer done it well, boy! But I'm afeard that booby over thar won't dare ter try it!"
He shouted to Curtiss to catch the rope, and again it went to the other side and was caught by him.
"You go first, Nulela," said Curtiss.
"No, Nulela will follow her chief!"
"Are you sure you can hang on?"
"Nulela is not a child," she replied. "But is the white chief afraid?"
"Oh, no! But what should I do if you were to fall? It would be instant death!"
"Does my chief then care for me?"
"Care for you? Yes, little one—I love you!" he answered.