I coiled the rope on the ground, took the loose end of it firmly in my left hand, and then, letting the grapnel hang from my right hand until it nearly touched the ground, I swung it round and round, perpendicularly, and when it had gone round three or four times, I gave it a tremendous hurl upward.
It rose beautifully, like a rocket, and fell inside of the ramparts, making only a little thud of a sound.
"First-rate!" said Rectus, softly; and I felt pretty proud myself.
I pulled on the rope, and found the grapnel had caught.

I hung with my whole weight on it, but it held splendidly.
"Now, then," said I to Rectus, "you can climb up.

Go slowly, and be very careful.

There's no hurry.

And mind you take a good hold when you get to the top." We had arranged that Rectus was to go first.