The boys laughed and nodded their heads in approval.

"What we need is a rope, not more help. Don't you think so?"

"Yes, yes. I should have put it that way myself only--"

"Why not send the Indian for a rope?" suggested Chunky. "I would go
myself if I knew the way."

"No, you'd fall in somewhere," chuckled Ned.

"And the Indian probably would forget to come back," added Walter.
"Altogether we are in a fix."

"I think Master Stacy's suggestion is the most practicable of all,"
decided the Professor.

"Yes, but where could you send Eagle-eye?" asked Ned. "It would take
two days for him to ride to Springfield, and that much more time to
return. Tad would starve to death before that, wouldn't he?"

"Not hardly. Altogether, the situation has some humor in it. Master
Tad is down there with plenty of food, but he cannot get up here. On
the other hand we are up here safe, but without food and cannot get
down to him."

"If Tad couldn't get out, he'd be even better off than we then,"
laughed Walter.

"We would all be all right in that event, my boy. Come here,