Part 7 (2/2)

”The water's fine, Chunky,” he called up cheerfully.

”The water's fine,” bellowed Chunky, glaring at his companions. Then a sheepish grin spread over his countenance when he realized what he had said. ”I mean, that's what Tad called,” he explained, amid a roar of laughter.

”He won't find it so fine if he falls in,” muttered Walter.

”Bad spirits in water,” grunted the Indian.

”Unfortunately for us, they're not all down there,” growled Ned. But his barbed wit failed to penetrate the tough skin of the red man.

”Tend to business, boys,” warned the Professor, observing a series of frantic gestures on the part of Stacy Brown. ”What does he want, to be lowered?”

”Yes, yes, don't you understand?”

”No, we don't understand motions in a foreign language,” laughed Walter, permitting the rope to slip through his hands a little.

”How's that?” queried Professor Zepplin.

”More rope!” roared Stacy. ”Watch my signals, then you'll know what to do.”

”What not to do,” muttered Ned.

Once more Tad began his cautious creeping down the uncertain trail.

Though he had gone some distance, it seemed to him as if the bottom were further away than when he started.

”I'm afraid this rope is not going to be long enough,” he breathed.

”However, I believe I can crawl down the last fifteen or twenty feet if the line will only reach to them. It's not nearly so steep down there as it is higher up.”

There occurred a sudden sharp jolt on the rope, due to the men above not letting the loops slip around the tree while the rope was taut.

This gave Tad a drop of three or four feet and a jar that made him think he was falling.

”Here you, up there! What are you trying to do?”

”What do you fellows mean?” demanded Stacy.

”Just a slip, that's all,” answered Walter.

”Somebody slipped,” shouted Stacy.

”Tell them to be careful, Chunky. This rope won't stand many such jerks as that. Remember, it's running over some sharp rocks above here and is liable to be cut in two.”

Stacy transmitted the order in a loud tone of command, which the Professor emphasized by a sharp command to the boys, at the same time admitting that he himself had also been at fault.

”Tell him we will not make that mistake again, Chunky,” said the Professor.

”Won't do it again,” called Stacy, pa.s.sing the word along.

<script>