"When you are ready, Miss Elting! Let us know when you wish a fresh
hold." Harriet was perfectly calm outwardly.
"Ready!"
"All together! One, two, three--pull! Steady; not so violently. This
is a small rope, and----"
"Whoa!" interjected the guardian sharply.
"We are taking up the slack back here. Good work for you girls,"
encouraged the guide.
"What is it? Oh, what is it?" screamed Tommy.
"Stop that noise!" commanded Harriet. "Everything is all right!"
"Ready again," commanded Miss Elting. "One, two, three--pull!"
Tommy came up about a foot this time. Her progress was slow, but it
was, at least, sure.
Jane and the guide were acting as anchors, at the same time assisting
in pulling on the line, holding down when the pauses came.
After every pull Miss Elting would call a halt while she worked the
round stick down over the edge of the rock to keep the rope from being
unduly worn. In this way Tommy came up little by little, now and then
uttering a sharp scream at some unexpected jolt. Once, when the rope
slipped from the round stick, Tommy felt herself slipping into
unconsciousness, but pluckily recovered herself.
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