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 up," he said grimly. "We'll get him up or I'll go down with him!" He went on bunglingly with the noose. Bob and Laurie were talking beyond the edge.

"Rope's too short for your scheme," Bob said as cheerfully as he could. "Only about forty of fifty feet, Nod."

"Wouldn't do, eh?" Laurie asked after a moment's silence.

"No, too short by thirty feet, I guess. Twenty, anyway. We'll have to pull you up, old chap. We'll manage it."

Ned was peering down now. "I've made a slip-noose, Laurie. We'll lower it down, and you can get one arm through and then the other."

"Wait a bit," said Bob. "You'd better take hold of that ledge again with your right hand first, Nod. These branches will be in the way. Can you reach it? Higher yet. There you are! All right." Bob pulled up the birch-tree, edged his body back, rolled over, and took several deep breaths. Then he rubbed his neck vigorously and got to his knees. "Polly," he directed, "you take hold of the end of the rope and, for the love of Mike, don't let go of it! Lower away now,