The Crystal Hunters Part 55

"I--that is, I can hold on," said Saxe sadly.

"That's right. I'm going to have one more try, lad, and if I fail I must climb again and see if I can get higher, so as to drop the loop over the rock; but I don't want to do that if I can help it, for, as you say, the getting down is bad."

He made a very long and careful preparation this time, and threw with so much vigour and want of accuracy that the loop missed; but a coil of the rope went right over the projection where the loop should have been, and the latter hung down nearly level with the thrower, and swinging to and fro some eight or ten feet away.

This was an unexpected complication, but Dale saw success in it; and after pausing for a few minutes to think, he began to climb sidewise toward it inch by inch over a part that was perilous in the extreme, till he was within four feet of the swinging loop. Then, glancing upward to make sure that the rope was well over the projection, he tightened the part he held, and, rising a little, let himself fall sidewise toward the loop, catching it easily, and swinging to and fro by the two ends of the rope as he vainly sought to find a hold for his feet.

"All right, Saxe," he said, as he rested one foot on a tiny boss; "I shall do it now." Then, helping himself by the double rope for hold, he climbed up the few feet between him and the projection, making use of every little crevice or angle for his feet, till he was able to get one arm right over the little block and hold on while he drew up the loop, cast off the piece of rope, and carefully arranged the loop in its place.

"Hurrah! That will not slip," he said.

"Pray--pray be careful," cried Saxe.

"Trust me: I will," said Dale, seizing the rope now with strong grip and lowering himself till he was hanging from it with both hands; then gliding down lower and lower, while Saxe felt puzzled, but dared not speak for fear of upsetting his companion at some special moment.

Dale lowered himself till he was level with the place he had quitted, and then began to swing himself to and fro across the face of the rock, evidently meaning to land upon the projection he had occupied so long.

But after several trials he found that he had not sufficient length of rope for this, and he had to lower himself a little more, showing the while the most implicit confidence in the rope as he began to swing again, describing a larger and a larger arc, till he checked himself when farthest distant from Saxe, upon a projection which just gave him room enough to stand on a level with Saxe.

It was ticklish work, but by the help of the rope he maintained his balance till he could find hand-hold and stand perfectly upright.

"There, Saxe," he said, rather breathlessly, "the game is won."

"I don't see it," said Saxe mournfully.

"Well, I do. I shall throw the rope across to you. Catch it, and take your ice-axe and descend."

"But you must not be left in that dangerous position."

"Not long, I hope," said Dale quietly. "You can swing the rope to me as soon as you are down, and by its help I can swing myself to your ledge and examine your discovery. Now then: look out! Ready!"

"Yes."

"Then off!"

The rope was thrown and caught dexterously by Saxe, who swung loose in the act and slipped a little way down.

"Never mind the ice-axe," cried Dale, as he saw the lad begin to climb up again. "I'll bring that down with me."

Saxe ceased his efforts to regain his former level, and let himself glide down to the bottom of the gully, where he could climb forward till he was beyond where Dale was clinging and draw the rope right into his reach.

"Let go!" cried Dale, seizing the welcome rope; and as Saxe obeyed he swung himself to and fro again, till this time he was able to land himself on the ledge the boy had just quitted, and maintained his position by thrusting his arm into the opening and grasping the handle of the axe.

"Well," cried Saxe, "is it a crystal cave?" For once more on terra firma, the peril of his late position was pretty well forgotten.

"Without a doubt," was the reply, after a pause. "I was beginning to bully you horribly, but after this I suppose I must hold my tongue."

Saxe's spirits, which had been down to zero, rose now to the highest point.

"Can you break a piece off with the axe?" he said, as he saw that Dale had twisted the rope round his arm for safety, and was reaching into the hole as far as his hand would go.

"That is what I have just done," replied Dale; "and now I have lost it.

No: I have it. I can hook it out now. Here it comes." And as Saxe stood on one side and watched, he saw his companion's arm drawn out, then by degrees the handle of the axe, and in imagination he saw a tiny piece of crystal drawn along by the steel head.

"I have it now," cried Dale. "Ah!"

He uttered a loud e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, for his feet had slipped from the narrow ledge, and he was hanging by one arm, turning slowly round and round.

A sharp struggle enabled him to regain his position, and once back there he drew out the axe completely, thrust it behind him, through his belt, and then pushed his hand into the orifice again.

"Throw me a bit of crystal down, and I'll catch it," said Saxe.

Dale laughed, and held out a bluntly pointed, angular piece of dart stone that looked almost black as he thrust it into his breast. Then, grasping the rope with hands and feet, he slid slowly down and stood by his companion's side.

"A nice adventure this," he said, "when I had come out for a quiet day!"

He drew the crystal from his breast, and held it up for Saxe to see.

"But it's so black-looking," cried the latter, as he took hold of the great dark crystal, pure-looking and clear as its name suggested, while every angle was sharp and perfect as if it were the production of that very day.

"Black?" said Dale. "So much the better. It is a very valuable kind, and there are plenty more. As far as I could make out, some are very large. Saxe, my lad, we must not think of the trouble and danger, for we both have been in great peril, and I talked lightly just to keep up your spirits,--I say we must not think of the troubles, for you have made a marvellous find, and I congratulate you."

"Then you are satisfied?" said Saxe eagerly.

"More than satisfied. You could not have done better. Now to secure our find. We must not leave the rope there, because that would betray the place."

"But n.o.body ever comes here."

"We hope n.o.body has been here, my boy; but, according to my experience, somebody will be sure to come now and find it."

"But how are we to get the rope up again if we take it down?"

"We shall have to scheme it somehow, my lad. What man has done I have no doubt he can do again."

"But we must leave it," said Saxe, with a laugh, for he was in the highest spirits now. "We can't get it down."

"Indeed!" said Dale. "I think I provided for that;" and taking hold of the bottom, he gave the rope a sharp shake, sending a wave along it which s.n.a.t.c.hed the loop from the projection, and the strong hempen line dropped at their feet.

"I hardly expected that," cried Saxe, proceeding to coil it up; "but it will be a terrible job to get it there again."

"We shall see," said Dale, as the loop was unfastened, the end twisted about the coil, and he once more threw it over his shoulder, after resuming his coat. "Now for camp. I little expected to make such a discovery when we started. Saxe, we shall have to pitch our tent up here when Melchior comes back."

"In this gloomy crack? Why, there will be no food for Gros!"

"Nor for us unless we bring it. I dare say we shall manage; but Melchior will be disappointed when he finds that we have made the discovery without his help."

As he spoke Dale looked up the gorge toward the sky, scanning the jagged edges of the summit.

"I hope no one has been watching us," he said. "It would not be very pleasant to find that any one has been spying all our actions, ready to take advantage of our find. There, come along! We cannot stop to watch the place, even if we felt this had been the case, for we've a long journey back out of this place, and then down the glacier home."