Penny held her hands, which were bound behind her back, over the flame. The heat seared her flesh and made her wince with pain.
“Keep it up, Penny!” encouraged her companion. “The cord is catching fire! But the lamp is almost out!”
Penny gritted her teeth and endured the pain. Then the lamp sputtered and went out, leaving the cave to darkness.
“Oh!” wailed Lorinda in bitter disappointment.
Penny tugged at the wrist cords. Although not severed, they were half burned through and weakened. A hard jerk freed her hands.
Only a moment then was required to untie the cords which held her feet. Next she freed Lorinda. As the girls started to leave through the passageway, Penny felt a cold blast of air upon her neck. Looking up, she was able to distinguish a small opening in the wall of the cave.
“Maybe we can get out there!” she exclaimed. “Give me a boost and I’ll see!”
Lorinda lifted her up. Scrambling like a monkey, Penny secured a toe hold and crammed her head and shoulders through the opening. A moment later she ducked back to call to her friend:
“We can get out all right! But the storm is getting awful! I’ll crawl out and then help you.”
Scrambling through the narrow opening, Penny found herself amid the high rocks overlooking the beach. The wind was blowing in puffs, each so powerful that she nearly was dislodged from her precarious perch.