“That’s good. That means they have our line. We can’t haul a heavy wet rope across the water and up the cliff by hand; have to have a capstan for that. Guess the one we used this evening will do.”
Finding the capstan, they dragged it up the side of the cliff. Here they anchored it firmly. Then began the task of pulling in the line. It came in quite freely at first; Johnny was beginning to think the cord had broken, when the back-pull began to stiffen.
“Got ’em all right,” he panted, as they redoubled their efforts.
Fathom after fathom the line was reeled in. So tight grew the strain that they felt sure it must break. But it did not. Presently they came to a knot and the end of a heavier line.
Attaching this to the capstan, they reeled in rapidly until they came to the place where the line was double, the added strand much larger than the other.
“Big one’s for the pulley to ride on; the little one’s to pull them in by,” explained Pant. “Now, all together, let’s draw her tight!”
Round and round went the capstan. Up—up—up rose the dripping rope until, at last, it swung entirely free from the sea.
Seizing a lantern, Pant alternately dimmed and brightened it. This he repeated several times.
“Giving them the signal for O. K.,” he explained.
He then watched their light as it dimmed and brightened.