the great notches he had cut in the ice.

"Steady, steady," panted Dale. "Oh, if I only had some purchase! Pull,
and never mind the skin; get the rope over the edge. Hurrah!"

The rope was over the edge, and just between them, and but for the fact
that Dale was able to get the head of his axe beneath his chest, and
press it down on the ice, it would have glided back once more.

"Now, Saxe," he cried, "I can hold him like this for a few moments: the
edge helps. Step back and take a grip of the axe handle."

Saxe obeyed, drawing the handle tight, and getting his boot toes in
another of the notches.

"Now," cried Dale, "hold on with all your might while I shuffle back."

"Are you going to leave go?" growled Saxe.

"No."

That negative came like the roar of a wild beast.

"Got him tight," cried Saxe; and he set his teeth and shut his eyes,
while, holding on with one hand, Dale shuffled himself back as far as he
could--that is, to the full extent of his arms and the foot of rope he
had dragged over the edge of the ice.

Then he paused for a moment or two.

"Now I want to get rope enough in for you to take hold."

"Will the ice edge cut?"

"No: the rope will cut down a smooth channel in the ice. Ready?--
Together."

There was a brief interval of hauling, and several feet were drawn over,
so that Saxe was able to get hold of the rope too; and they rested
again, for in that position everything depended on their arms.

"Now I have him," cried Dale. "Hold on with one hand while you reach
your axe, and anchor it in the hole you made."

"Done," cried Saxe.

"Haul again."

They hauled, and another foot or so was gained.

"Now hitch the rope well round the axe handle," cried Dale, "and get it
tight."

This was done; the rope being twisted above the band of leather placed
to keep the hand from slipping; and with this to take off the stress,
Dale was able, while well holding on, to get to his knees, and then to
his feet, when, planting his heels in one of the grooves cut in the ice,
he took a fresh grip of the rope.

"Now, Saxe," he cried; "up with you! Behind me!"

The lad grasped the position, and leaped up and seized the rope behind
Dale.

"Now, then!--a steady haul together!"

The battle seemed to be nearly won, for the rope glided on steadily over
the ice, cutting pretty deeply the while, but after the first few
seconds apparently without friction.

Foot by foot, a steady pull, till there w