As soon as it was dark they recommenced work, and had cut through the main bar, and cautiously lowered the grating to the ground, before the clock struck nine.

Then, on hearing Mike's signal, they lowered the cord, and soon brought up a rope which, although small, was more than strong enough to support them.
"We had better tie some knots in it," Desmond said.

"They will help us to avoid sliding down too rapidly.

If it was a thick rope, I think we could manage without them; but, not being sailors, I do not think that we could grasp this tightly enough." "How close shall we put them, Kennedy ?" "About two feet apart.

Then we can come down hand over hand, helping our arms by twisting our legs round it.
"Now," he went on, when they had finished the knots, "who will go down first ?" "You had better do so," O'Sullivan said.