"

"But I shall be all right if you hold me tightly," cried Tom. "Come
on."

Uncle Richard gave way, and took a firm grip of the boy's jacket as he
climbed out through the shutter opening into the little gallery, where
he reached over to get to the far edge of the shutter, to draw it to
him, but the next moment he had crouched down and held on for dear life.

For, as if the storm had pounced upon him to tear him off the high
building and sweep him away, down came the wind with a savage roar, and
when for a few moments there was a slight lull, Tom yielded to the drag
put on him by his uncle, and half climbed, half allowed himself to be
lifted into the observatory.

"I never thought the wind could be so strong," he panted breathlessly.

"It is terrible to-night. I must go myself."

"You--uncle? Why, the place would hardly bear a man of your weight, and
I couldn't hold you up if you slipped."

"Could you reach the edge of the shutter?"

"No, uncle, not by far enough."

"That was as far as I could reach, too. We must give it up and risk
everything."

Tom gave his uncle a droll look, the light from the lantern shining
dimly on his face.

"We can't give it up, uncle. I'll try again when the wind is not so
strong."

"But you could not reach, boy, and I dare not loose my hold even for a
minute."

"'Tis awkward," shouted Tom; "but we must do something. Stop a minute:
I know. Rope."

"Yes, of course, the new strong rope in the bottom of the tool-chest."

Tom took the lantern, and as his uncle held up the trap-door, the boy
went down, to return in two or three minutes with a small coil of thin,
thoroughly trustworthy new rope, and a hammer and some strong nails; and
as soon as the lantern and trap-door were secured, he began to knot the
rope round his waist.

"I don't like letting you go, Tom," said Uncle Richard, with his lips to
the boy's ear.

"And I don't like to go, uncle; but this knot can't slip, and you won't
loose me."

"No; you may depend upon that, my lad."

"Very well, then: look here. I've brought the hammer and some nails.
We can't fasten the shutter safely here, it would only break away
again."

"Then it is of no use, boy; we must let the place take its chance."

"We won't, uncle," screamed Tom, to make himself heard. "Look here: I
know. Where I touched the nearest corner of the shutter it's
broken-away, so I shall get out in the gallery, turn it over into its
place, and nail