Part 46 (1/2)
He drew back, hauled up some of the rope, knelt upon it to keep it fast, and picked up his ice-axe, while Saxe watched him with dilated eyes, as he made a knot and pa.s.sed the axe handle through to where the steel head stopped it like a cross. Then, cutting off more string, he bound the end of the rope to the handle of his axe, doubly and triply, so that slipping was impossible.
This took up nearly a foot for the knot; but the handle was nearly four feet long, so that by this scheme he gained another yard as an addition to the rope.
”I am at the end of my wits now, Saxe,” he said softly; and then, with grim irony, ”There is no need to wet my hands, boy.”
”Now, Melchior!” he shouted; ”try again!”
He was on his chest as he spoke, with his arms outstretched, holding tightly by the axe handle.
”Can you reach it?”
Saxe panted, and felt the insides of his hands grow wet and cold as he held on to his companion and listened for the answer that was terribly long in coming. The sensation was almost suffocating; he held his breath, and every nerve and muscle was on the strain for the words which seemed as if they would never reach his ears.
”Well?” shouted Dale, in a harsh, angry voice, his word sounding like a snarl.
”Can't quite--can't. Hah! I have it!”
”Hurrah!” burst out Saxe, giving vent in his homely, boyish way to his excitement.
Then, feeling ashamed of himself, he was silent and listened for every word.
”Get your arm right through, above the elbow.”
”Yes, herr. Right.”
”Pull, to tighten it.”
”Yes, herr,” came back.
”Ready? Sure it cannot slip?”
”It cuts right into my arm: never slip.”
”Now, Saxe, I have him, boy; but Heaven knows whether I can get him up, lying like this. No: it is impossible; I have no strength, and the wood handle is not like rope.”
”Oh!” groaned Saxe.
”If I could get to the rope, you might help me. It is impossible: I cannot lift him so.”
”Can you hold on as you are?” said Saxe huskily.
”Yes; but I could not lift--I have no power.”
”I must come too, and get hold of the handle. Will the head come off?”
”Hus.h.!.+ No. It is too new and strong. But you could not get hold to do any good. There--come and try.”
Saxe unhooked his axe from the ice, for an idea had struck him; and, lying down close to Dale, who uttered a sigh of satisfaction as he grasped the boy's idea, he lowered down his axe, and hooked the rope with it just beneath Dale's.
”Good,” whispered the latter,--”good. Ready?”