A moment later the lariat was jerked from his hand, showing that a heavy
weight had suddenly fastened upon it, and the man was making his way
upward from the cave.




CHAPTER VIII.

FISHING FOR A PRIZE.

It is no easy task, even for a trained athlete, to climb forty or fifty
feet of rope. The majority of men, if put to the test of making their way
out of that cave by shinning up the long lariat suspended from the opening
above, would have failed altogether.

Remembering how well his hearing had served him under somewhat similar
circumstances, young Munson, watching so anxiously for the appearance of
his friend, pressed his ear against the tough, untanned rope and listened.
He could hear the scraping of the hands and the friction of the limbs
against the rope, working steadily and in such a manner as to show that
the man was succeeding well in the excelsior business and was sure to
reach the top in time, if his strength held out.

"I guess that's Mickey O'Rooney climbing up," muttered the boy, "and yet I
can't tell till I get a sight of him. It may be an Apache, and I'd better
get ready, for I don't mean to have any of them creeping up on me."

Fred did not wish to cut the rope, as that would have ended the