Árdís - 01.01.1963, Blaðsíða 34

32
ÁRDIS
Hastily Frank undid the half-hitch knot holding the rope in
a loop. He was pleased to see that it was more than long enough
He figured the right size of loop and fastened it with a clove hitch.
“Roy,” he called down the cave, “I’ve got the rope.” He
lowered it. “Put the loop over Skipper’s head and push it back
behind his front legs.”
Roy fumbled the rope but at last got it around the dog. Frank
sat down, dug his heels into the turf and hauled in the rope hand
over hand. The rope became taut, the dog’s fore part rose and
he stood on his hind feet, clawing the side of the cave. Frank
hauled and pulled but he could not lift Skipper off the ground.
Then the twins, lying on either side of Frank, shouted.
“Come on, Skipper! Come on, boy! Run up the wall! Skipper!
Skipper!”
This excited the dog and he clawed frantically at the wall.
Frank hauled in the rope and the dog rose slowly and was out.
He wouldn’t keep still; getting the loop off him was difficult.
The dog was up, now for the boy.
“Your turn next,” Frank called to Roy. “Put the loop over
your head and under your arms.”
The little boy managed to do as he was told. Frank began
pulling, even jerking on the rope, but he couldn’t lift the child
an inch.
“Run like Skipper did,” Garry shouted. “Run! Run!”
But the boy couldn’t help by clawing himself up. He was no
help at all, and began to cry. Frank rested. He had to think of
some other way to get Roy up. Then a new plan flashed in his
mind.
“I’m going to haul him in a different way,” he told the twins.
“When Roy reaches the top, help him out, but be careful not to
tumble in yourselves.”
It was a good plan, if it worked. If it failed he didn’t know
what he’d do. He was afraid of failure but had to give his plan
a try. He fashioned a big loop on the end of the rope, thrust his
arms through it, then placed the loop over his head, resting on the
back of his neck, forming a harness.
Facing away from the cave-in he took a few steps until the