before.

"No rope," he answered, as if it were a matter of no moment.

"I'll get a lariat. That surely ought to be long enough," said
Walter, darting away to the ponies.

"Come back. There's no lariats there. They're all in the pack down
at the bottom of the canyon," shouted Ned.

"Then we're helpless," groaned the Professor.

"No, we're not. I'll find a way to get the boy out," announced Ned,
in a voice of stern determination. There was no laughter in his face
now. Purpose was written in every line of it.

"Come here, you lazy redskin, you," he commanded, which summons
Eagle-eye obeyed reluctantly.

"What are you going to do?" demanded the Professor.

"Help!" came a wail from the unhappy Chunky.

"We're coming. Keep quiet. Don't you move," admonished Walter.

"I'll get a nosebleed if I have to hang here this way."

"You'll get worse than that if you don't get a grip on yourself and
keep quiet. I'm going to form a human chain, the way we used to do to
get pond lilies at home. Professor, lie down there, while I tie your