d, and very correctly: that it was the extra weight that
had hindered the eagle from ascending. It was not so much beyond his
strength neither. Perhaps had it been only half as heavy, or even a
little more, he might have succeeded in carrying it over the cliff.

What if the weight should be reduced?

To make the rope more slender did not enter into Caspar's calculations.
He knew this could not be done: since it was a point already discussed
and decided upon.

But how if the rope were to be _shorter_, than that which had been
theoretically considered? How if it were to be only fifty yards,
instead of one hundred and fifty? Of course, then the eagle might fly
with it, to whatever height its length would allow.

Caspar felt satisfied of this fact; nor did either of the others
question its truth--but what then?

"What," inquired Karl, "would be the use of a rope of fifty yards,
though the eagle might carry it up to the moon? Even at the lowest part
of the cliffs--should the bearcoot take one end over, the other would be
fifty yards above our heads?"

"Not a yard, brother--not a foot. The other end would be in our hands--
in our hands, I tell you."

"Well, Caspar," calmly rejoined the philosopher, "you appear to be
confident enough; though I can't guess what you are driving at. You
know this hideous precipice is at no point less than a hundred yards in
sheer height?"

"I do," replied Caspar, still speaking in the same tone of confidence;
"but a rope of only fifty--ay, of not more than half that length--may be
held in our hands, while the other end is over the top of the cliff."

Karl looked perplexed; but the shikaree, on this occasion quicker of
perception than the philosopher, catching at Caspar's meaning, cried
out:--

"Ha, ha! young sahib meanee from top ob da ladder! Dat meanee he."

"Exactly so," said Caspar; "you've guessed right, Ossy. I mean just
that very thing."

"Oh! then, indeed," said Karl, in a drawling tone, at the same time
lapsing into a reflective silence.

"Perhaps you are right, brother," he added, after a pause. "At all
events, it will be easy to try. If your scheme succeed, we shall not
require to make any more cord. What we have will be sufficient. Let us
make trial at once!"

"Where is the bearcoot?" asked Caspar, looking around to discover the
bird.

"Yonner be he, young sahib," answered Ossaroo, pointing towards the
precipice; "yonner sitee he--ober da rock."

The