r, for then this matter would be simple."

Working furiously, Otter hacked at the hard surface of the ice. The
first two steps he hollowed from the top of the slope lying on his
stomach. After this difficulties presented themselves which seemed
insuperable, for he could not chip at the ice when he had nothing by
which to support himself.

"What is to be done now?" said Leonard.

"Keep cool, Baas, and give me time to think," and for a moment Otter
squatted down and was silent.

"I have it," he said presently, and rising he took off his goat-skin
cloak and cut it into strips, each strip measuring about two inches in
width by two feet six inches in length. These strips he knotted together
firmly, making a serviceable rope of them, long enough to reach to where
Leonard and Juanna were suspended on the stout handle of the spear.

Then he took the stake which had already done him such good service,
and, sharpening its point, fixed it as deeply as he could into the snow
and earth on the border of the ice belt, and tied the skin rope to it.

"Now, Baas," he said, "all is well, for I can begin from the bottom."

And, without further words, he let himself down till he hung beside
them.

"Is the Shepherdess dead, Baas?" he asked, glancing at Juanna's pale
face and closed eyes, "or does she only sleep?"

"I think that she is in a swoon," answered Leonard; "but for heaven's
sake be quick, Otter, for I am being frozen on this ice. What is your
plan now?"

"This, Baas: to tie about your middle the end of the rope that I have
made from the cloak, then to undo the cord that binds you and the
Shepherdess together, and return to the top of the slope. Once there I
can pull her up by the hide line, for it is strong, and she will slip
easily over the ice, and you can follow."

"Good!" said Leonard.

Then hanging by one hand the dwarf managed, with such assistance as
Leonard could give him, to knot beneath Leonard's arms the end of the
rope which he had constructed from the skin garment. Next he set to work
to untie the hide cord, thereby freeing him from Juanna. And now
came the most difficult and dangerous part of the task, for Leonard,
suspended from the shaft of the spear by one hand, must support Juanna's
senseless form with the other, while Otter made shift to drag himself
to the summit of the ice, holding the hide line in his teeth. The spear
bent dreadfully, and Leonard did not dare to put any extra strain upon
the roug