CHAPTER VIII.
ON THE TRACK OF JOE KOLOA.
After an examination, Oliver called up to us that he thought the rope was about twelve feet too short.
"I think I can reach it by climbing," he announced. "But it will be rather dangerous work."
"Don't you run any more risks," I answered. "Just wait until we lengthen the rope."
"Have you anything with which to do it?"
"No; but we'll find something, even if we have to use all of the harness."
"I know how," cried the Kanaka. "You hold de rope and I show you."
I did as he requested, and running up the gully a short distance, he selected a slender but sturdy sapling, and bent it to the ground. Then out came his native knife, and a few deep cuts enabled him to wrench the young tree from its roots. As he came on with it he stripped it of its main branches.
"Now tie rope to one end and we hold udder end," he said, grinning over what he no doubt
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