ead
bearcoot was to be eaten while fresh, and needed no curing.

And so indeed it was eaten--the bird of Jove furnishing them with a
dinner, as that of Juno had given them a breakfast!

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

THE LOG ON THE LEG.

As soon as they had hung the ibex-meat upon the curing strings, and
pegged out the two skins for drying, they turned their attention to the
making of the rope by which they were to be pulled out of their prison.
By good fortune they had a large stock of hemp on hand all ready for
twisting. It was a store that had been saved up by Ossaroo--at the time
when he had fabricated his fish-net; and as it had been kept in a little
dry grotto of the cliff, it was still in excellent preservation. They
had also on hand a very long rope, though, unfortunately, not long
enough for their present purpose. It was the same which they had used
in projecting their tree-bridge across the crevasse; and which they had
long ago unrove from its pulleys, and brought home to the hut. This
rope was the exact thickness they would require: for anything of a more
slender gauge would scarcely be sufficient to support the weight of a
man's body; and considering the fearful risk they would have to run,
while hanging by it against the face of such a cliff, it was necessary
to keep on the safe side as regarded the strength of the rope. They
could have made it of ample thickness and strength, so as to secure
against the accident of its breaking. But then, on the opposite hand,
arose the difficulty as to the strength of the eagle's wing. Should the
rope prove too heavy for the bearcoot to carry over the top of the
cliff, then all their labour would be in vain.

"Why not ascertain this fact before making the rope?"

This was a suggestion of Karl himself.

"But how are we to do it?" was the rejoinder of Caspar.

"I think we can manage the matter," said the botanist, apparently
busying his brain with some profound calculation.

"I can't think of a way myself," replied Caspar, looking inquiringly at
his brother.

"I fancy I can," said Karl. "What is to hinder us to ascertain the
weight of the rope before making it, and also decide as to whether the
bird can carry so much?"

"But how are you to weigh the rope until it is made? You know it's the
trouble of making it we wish to avoid--that is, should it prove useless
afterwards."

"Oh! as for that," rejoined Karl, "it is not necessary to have it
finished to fi