Canaris woke his companions as speedily as possible. Their astonishment at finding Guy missing was very great, and at first they seemed scarcely able to comprehend the Greek’s explanation.
Then they glanced eagerly overhead; and hailed Guy with shouts of joy.
“Here, hoist me up,” cried the colonel. “I’ll take him up the torch.”
“No, I’ll go!” exclaimed Forbes. “I’m a pretty expert climber, colonel, and won’t run any risk.”
“Bless me!” ejaculated Sir Arthur. “Did that young man Chutney walk up the face of that wall? Why, he’s a freak.”
Canaris solved the matter by picking up one of the leathern bags and tearing it open.
“Look!” he shouted up to Guy. “It was fortunate we kept these. Here are the ropes and hooks by which we scaled the walls of Harar.”
“Hurrah!” cried Chutney. “Just the thing! I had forgotten about them.”
“Now,” continued the Greek, “both of you can go up the rock and I will remain here with Sir Arthur.”
He dragged out the four ropes, spliced two of them together to make the required length, and then, giving the end to Forbes to hold, he threw the iron hook skillfully toward Guy. It landed on top of the cliff, and Guy fastened it securely to a crevice.