somewhat. It was a rough stretch, too long for a ladder. A single
rope had been saved for the purpose. Rick took it from Scotty and made
it fast around a spike they had driven earlier. Zircon was the first to
use it. He went down swiftly, keeping hold of the rope in case of a
slip.

Scotty followed, then Shannon. The lanky zoologist was halfway down when
Rick felt the rope tighten with a jerk and he heard Shannon's choked
cry of pain. Rick rechecked to be sure the rope was secure, then
motioned to Briotti and the Filipino boy. "Go on. We've got to get down
to him."

Scotty and Zircon, climbing back from below, reached Shannon's side
before Rick and the others could get there. In a few moments the six
were clustered together.

"A rock turned under me," Shannon explained. "I felt the bone snap in my
leg. You'd better go on. You can send help back to me later."

"Nonsense," Zircon grated. "Boys, what can we use for a splint?"

Rick was already pulling arrows out of the quiver. "These are Dr.
Shannon's. I'm sure he won't mind if we use them."

"You have my permission," Shannon said with a painful chuckle.

The blunt-headed arrows were quickly lashed into two bundles. Rick and
Scotty shed their light jackets and Scotty's knife flashed in the faint
starlight as he sliced them into padding. Rick took the extra bowstrings
from the quiver and handed them to Zircon. The bowstrings would make
ideal ties. Within a short time Shannon's leg was securely splinted and
Zircon was giving instructions.

"Scotty, go untie the rope and bring it down. You and Rick will hold
from above, while Tony and I carry Howard. You, Mr. Torres, will please
stay directly in front of us to test the footing and warn us of loose
stones."

"Of course, sir," the Filipino boy replied quickly.

Scotty returned from his climb with the rope coiled. He made several
turns around Shannon's waist, pulled the rope up under his armpits, and
secured it with a bowline.

"Slow and easy does it," Zircon directed.

Slow was the key word. Rick and Scotty kept the safety line taut while
Briotti and Zircon moved the injured man an inch at a time, bracing
themselves against the rock and feeling for each step. Zircon, the most
powerful of them all, had to carry most of the scientist's weight.

Rick was worried. The trip across the volcano had taken quite a while
and now time was running out on them. He looked at the luminous dial of
his watch and realized with a