The snow prevented them from seeing six feet below them, but they felt sure that there must be a narrow lane between the house and the wall.

They had during the day bought a length, equal to that of their rope, of strong string.
"I have got it as you ordered it, master," Paolo said as they came out of the shop, "but it would never bear our weight." "I think it might do in case of necessity," Hector said.

"In fact, I am sure it would.

It does not require a great thickness of new cord to hold a man's weight; but I don't want it for that." Paolo walked silently along for some time, and then said: "If it is not wanted to carry our weight, master, I cannot think what it is wanted for." "It is wanted to get the hook down with.

You see when we get down into the street there would be little chance of getting the hook off its hold.