n the first idea.

"Why can't we trail a rope for him to catch?" he asked.

"He's probably too weak to climb a rope," objected Tom.

"I'll tell you what we can do," said Paul, with a happy thought. "We
can take this coil of rope we have here and make a narrow ladder of it!
That will be easy for him to catch, and easy to climb."

All agreed instantly that this was the only hope of rescue. So John
kept the Sky-Bird slowly wheeling, while his three mates cut and tied
until they had formed a narrow rope ladder about fifty feet long. One
end of this they securely fastened in the cabin, while they let the
other drop down through the glass trap in the floor.

To their dismay the rush of wind carried the light ladder out so
horizontally behind that they saw they could never get low enough with
safety for Oliver Torrey to reach it! What could they do now? It
seemed they were destined to failure; that Torrey must be left to the
cruel and hungry waves.

"I have it!" cried Bob. "We'll fasten Grandpa near the lower end of
the ladder. His weight will be sufficient to keep it down straight."

This was a splendid scheme, surely. Accordingly, the monkey, wondering
what new form of teasing was about to be imposed upon him, was fastened
about three feet from the bottom end of the ladder, and Grandpa and his
strange trapeze was then slowly let down until all of the ladder had
been paid out. The crew were glad to note that it now hung almost
perpendicularly.

Now the success of everything depended upon John. He must be skillful
enough to bring the ladder across Torrey's position in just the right
place for the flyer to grasp it as it swept past.

They shouted to the man below to stand up if he could, and
comprehending in an instant his part of the program, he struggled to
his feet, spreading them wide apart to brace himself, for the wrecked
airplane was rocking somewhat from the action of the waves.

The first time John brought the Sky-Bird by he was too high; Torrey
could not reach the ladder. The second time a sudden gust of wind blew
the ropes too far to one side at the critical moment. The third time
the machine itself was a trifle too far to one side. But on the fourth
attempt success met their patient efforts; Torrey's hands seized the
bottom rung of the ladder, and a few minutes later he had climbed up
into the cabin and sunk weakly upon the floor. Paul then brought in
the ladder, laughing nervously, and rele