"Our enemies, the Sobber crowd, are here, and they left us as you see us. I rather think they have Mrs. Stanhope and that fortune here, too, but I am not certain. Help to get us out of here, and we'll get after 'em without delay."
"Don't know how we are going to help you without a rope," said the captain.
"I saw some rope, down in the big part of this cave," said Larry Dixon. "Let me have the light an' I'll fetch it in a jiffy!"
He took the light and was off on the run. When he returned he was out of breath. In his hands he held several pieces of good, stout rope, parts of the same rope which had been used to make Dick a close prisoner.
"We can splice these," said the old tar, and while Captain Wells held the lantern, he tied the bits together. Then both he and the captain allowed one end of the rope to dangle down into the hole, while they braced themselves and held on to the upper portion.
"Is it long enough?" asked Captain Wells.
"I think so—I'll see," cried Tom, and leaving the rocks he swam over to the rope. He was just able to reach it, and being something of an athlete, went up the rope hand over hand, with his feet against the rocks for added support.
