The rope therefore should be made with the greatest care.

Every fibre of it should be of the best quality of hemp--every strand twisted with a perfect uniformity of thickness--every plait manipulated with an exact accuracy.
Ossaroo was the man to make such a cord.

He could spin it with as much evenness as a Manchester mill.

There would be no danger that in a rope of Ossaroo's making the most critical eye could detect either fault or flaw.
It was finally determined on that the rope should be spun--Ossaroo acting as director, the others becoming his attendants rather than his assistants.
Before proceeding to work, however, it was deemed prudent to secure against a hungry day by curing the flesh of the brace of ibex.

The dead bearcoot was to be eaten while fresh, and needed no curing.
And so indeed it was eaten--the bird of Jove furnishing them with a dinner, as that of Juno had given them a breakfast!.