“That’s easy,” said the captain, smiling. “We’ll take a very long rope, one that will reach all the way from the deck up to where he is and back again. We’ll tie one end around your friend and we’ll hang on to the other down here on the deck. The rope will go over the yard and he will be on one end and we will be on the other. Then we’ll lower away slowly and the first thing you know he’ll be right down here with us again.”
“And mighty glad to get here, I guess,” exclaimed Grant.
“I’ll send a man up with the rope now,” said the captain, and he started to walk away.
“Wait,” cried Grant suddenly. “What’s Fred trying to do?”
“He’s untying the ropes,” exclaimed String. “Is he crazy?”
“I guess he is,” said Pop. “It looks as if he was getting ready to climb down the way he went up.”
“Yell at him,” exclaimed String excitedly.
“Don’t you do it,” cautioned Captain Dodge quickly. “Don’t distract his attention from what he is doing for a second. It’s too late now, anyway.”
Fred now stood free and clear of the ropes. It was evident that the two men with him were arguing with him not to attempt the descent, but apparently their efforts made no impression on the daring youth, for he could be seen to shake his head. Then he gingerly lowered himself from the yard and began the perilous journey to the deck.
“Pretty nervy,” muttered Captain Dodge under his breath, and murmurs of admiration could be heard from all the members of the crew gathered nearby. No one spoke, however, for all eyes and all interest were focused on the feat Fred was performing.