“Oh, Hippy, what can we do?” moaned Nora. “If he lets go he will be dashed to death.” Elfreda, who had been calmly surveying the scene, recommended that they all return to the point from which Stacy fell, and descend the slope on the other side.
“I think that, if we can get down on that side, we shall be near enough to be able to cast a rope to him,” she said.
The two men agreed with her, and, after telling Stacy what they proposed to do, all hands began clambering up the mountain again. Reaching their former position, it was seen that the route they had planned to follow to reach Stacy would be perilous. Tom said the girls must remain where they were while he and Hippy made the descent.
The Overlanders had two ropes, Grace’s lariat, and a small Manila rope that they always carried on their mountain climbs. These ropes Tom and Hippy took with them and began cautiously picking their way down the rocks on the right-hand side of the slope. It took them nearly an hour to reach a point opposite the boy.
“Are you there, Chunky?” shouted Tom.
“Part of me is. The rest is dangling. If you don’t hurry I’ll soon be a hamburger steak at the base of the mountain.”
“Hold up your hand so we may see where you are,” directed Tom.
Stacy thrust a cautious hand from the bushes, then as cautiously withdrew it, but the two Overlanders saw it.
“Listen, boy!” called Tom. “We are going to try to cast a rope to you, but do not make a quick move in grabbing it. Once you have the rope in your hands, pass it about your body under the arms and tie it securely; then, when we give the word, let go of your support. We will do the rest. Understand?”
“Yes.”