“So far, so good!” Terry whispered. “Now help me fasten the rope to the chimney.”
Moving carefully on the steep roof, the girls made fast the rope, then Terry let herself to the eaves and looked over. It was a long drop to safety, for the rear of the house was built above a ravine, with only a narrow ledge of rock for a foothold. Yet escape from the front was impossible. Joe Heron might come out of the door and seize them.
“I’m scared already, but I’ll go through with it,” Prim replied.
“I’m scared too. But it’s the only way,” said Terry.
“You’re never scared when you’re flying,” answered Prim. “You do loops and side-slips and all kinds of stunts, and you never seem to worry.”
“That’s different. In a plane I feel safe. I guess it’s because I’m a born flyer. Come on, Prim, let’s go!”
“Wait, Terry. We must go down hand over hand. Let’s tie knots in the rope for a hand hold.”
“Of course. Wasn’t I stupid to forget that!” Hastily the girls tied big knots at intervals, then let the rope down at the rear of the house. It seemed like a terrible distance to the ledge, and the ravine below it was dark and terrifying. Prim gasped:
“Oh, Terry. Let’s turn back. If you lose your grip, you’ll be killed.”
But for answer Terry swung off, over the eaves and began letting herself down, hand over hand. Without the knots she would have been lost and even as it was, the pain in her hands was terrible, but in a minute her feet touched the ground, and she gave a low whistle as a signal for Prim.
Terry waited for her sister with outstretched arms, and Prim almost fell the last ten feet, sinking limply into Terry’s arms.
“It was terrible,” she gasped. “I wouldn’t try that again for a thousand dollars.”
“Brace up,” whispered Terry. “We’re all right now. But Gee, I thought I was a goner!”
A window had been raised in the house. Terry and Prim hugged the wall, hardly daring to breathe. Footsteps were heard in the house and someone opened the front door.
“Now we’re in for it!” whispered Prim. “Let’s run. It’s Jim Heron.”
But Terry looked around the corner of the wall and said softly, “It’s that girl, Sally Wyn. The little traitor! Keep still, she may not see us. If she does, we’ll fight her off and run.”
The sisters remained motionless and quiet while Sally went to an old shed and back, dragging something heavy. After she was out of sight, and the house was quiet, Terry pressed Prim’s hand, and said: