f rude windlass, and
knotting the lengths of rope firmly together, they succeeded in making a
line long enough to reach him, and firm enough to bear him. It was an
anxious time, while they gradually drew him up the steep face of the
cliff. They did not dare to pull quickly, for fear he should be dashed
against the rock and lose his hold, and they were also afraid of grazing
the rope against the jagged rocks. But at last, with great care, and by
his own prudent management and skill in guiding the rope, he was landed
safely on the top of the cliff. Poor Mary was so overjoyed at his
escape, that when they all turned to go home, and were tying up the rope
again, she caught me up, and declared she should value me to her dying
day. Strangely enough, I was the only rope that was damaged of all, for
I had been chafed a good deal against the rock, and in one place was
nearly cut through. For a long while after Mary shuddered so at the
sight of that piece of me, that at last Robin, who had regained
possession of me, cut me through. The longer piece was kept for the
boat, and the shorter length you now behold was tied up again for poor
Robin's use as before.

"There was not one in the village who did not heartily rejoice at John's
rescue; and it almost seemed as if after that things had come to the
worst, for they began to mend. There were more fish taken than had been
known on that coast for many years, and the weather proved most
fortunate for getting in the humble crops, so that John had some new
nets at last; and the poor family had enough to eat. But better food and
brighter days could not save poor Robin; the long winter had told too
heavily upon him to enable him to rally again. By the time the
blackberries were in flower on the top of the cliff, Robin had faded
away, like their leaves, but very patient, very happy to the last. His
mother had fancied him asleep, as he lay so quietly with one of my ends
still held fast in his wasted fingers. His mother fretted so for him,
and took his loss so sadly to heart, that it was pitiable to see her.
The sight of his vacant bed, and the cord still hanging there, seemed to
go like a knife to her heart; and therefore John took me away one day
without her knowledge, and put me out of sight.

"I was forgotten for many years, so many indeed, that when I next came
to daylight I found everything strange and altered in the cottage. John
and his wife, grown old and past work, had gone to live