"There's a good big crotch of the tree below me," called Matt, "and if you can lower Dick down, I'll drop lower where I can work better."
"I vill do der pest vat I can, Matt," answered Carl. "Tick has der rope aroundt him, und ve can keep him from falling. Go on mit yourseluf."
"You'd better tie your end of the rope around the limb," counseled Matt, "and I'll take a turn of it around this broken branch. That will give me a leverage when we come to lower Dick."
While Carl secured the end of the rope, Matt slid down into the large fork.
"All ready!" he called up. "Be careful now, Carl. The least slip will send both you and Dick downward."
"I do der pest vat I can," repeated Carl.
Bracing himself in the fork, Matt held to the rope with one hand and reached up the other as Dick came down to him.
The rope tightened around the stump of the branch, and Matt let it slide through his hand.
Slowly and carefully Motor Matt went about his work, watched breathlessly by Carl.
The purchase Matt had on the rope was sufficient to enable him to hold Dick in the air while he guided his swaying body downward. As soon as Dick was below him, Matt was able to lay hold of the rope with both hands and let Dick drop at a swifter rate.