"I sincerely hope you do, too," laughed Tad.

"If I win, I'll lose. That sounds funny, doesn't it?"

"What do you mean?" demanded Chunky, pushing his way forward.

"He means," Walter informed him, "that if he wins it will be because
he takes a tumble to the bottom of the canyon. Understand?"

"Oh," muttered Chunky, thrusting his hands into his trousers pockets.
He stepped to the edge of the cliff, where he stood peering over
curiously.

"I hope Tad doesn't win, too," he decided sagely, whereat the others
laughed loudly.

"Now, Professor, will you please take charge of the operations?"

"Certainly. But, you understand, I permit this thing under strong
protest. I am doing wrong. I should use my authority to prevent it
were we not already in such a serious predicament."

"Don't worry. What I want is to have you take a few turns around that
small tree there with the rope, and pay it out carefully, so that I
can lower myself safely. Don't give me too much rope at one time, you
know."

"No," chuckled Ned. "You know what they say happens to people who
have too much rope."