"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, passing the word along.