Phipps.
"I'll fix it so you can. I'll tie some knots in it, then climbing
will be easy."
With that Tad once more swung clear of the floor and went up hand over
hand with amazing rapidity. By the light of their matches they saw
him disappear through the hole in the roof of the chamber.
"It's all right, fellows," he called down to the others. "I'll just
haul up the rope and fix it for you."
This he did, letting the rope down to them a few moments later.
Walter was the first to try the climb.
"I can't do it, Tad. I just can't," he cried, slipping back to the
floor where he landed in a heap.
"Hold the rope down for him, then he ought to be able to make it,"
directed Tad.
Walter, however, had apparently lost his courage and declared that he
could not do it.
"Take a hitch under his arms, good and strong. I'll pull him up," he
commanded. They did as the boy above directed, then Tad began his
pull. It was a fearful task.
"Grab hold of me, put your arms around my waist and brace yourself,"
he commanded, and the girl with quick wit comprehended what he wished
her to do. Slowly, foot by foot Tad hauled the dead weight up. The
last few feet of the rope seemed a mile to him.
With a final desperate effort, just as his muscles seemed to be at the
breaking point, Tad, hauled his companion safely to the flat rock
beside him, then fell on the floor of the cave, gasping for breath.
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