n't stopped exploring. "Not much. How about you?"

"There's a sharp end of wire under my hands. I'm going to see if I can
loosen the knots. Keep working."

"Don't worry," Rick whispered fervently. "I will."

Silence fell, except for an occasional scrape as they struggled. Rick's
arms began to hurt, and his neck felt as though it would never
straighten again. Gradually he worked the rope end into reach and began
to move it, hoping to loosen the knot. Then there was a soft exclamation
of triumph from Scotty.

"Are you free?" Rick whispered quickly.

"No. But I pulled the rope between my wrists and ankles loose enough so
I can move. Just a minute."

Scotty got to his knees, balancing precariously. "I'm going to try to
slide my hands down the frame to yours."

Rick strained his neck trying to see if there were any obstacles in the
way, but he could see nothing. Scotty grunted. "I think I'm hung up on a
bolt that's sticking through the frame." There was silence for a few
moments while the boy struggled. "Made it," he muttered. "The ropes
loosened a little."

Presently Rick felt Scotty's fingers and moved his own, seeking the
ropes around his pal's wrists. He probed, trying to find the key to the
knots. Finally, his right forefinger touched a free end, and he followed
it into a twist of rope. His first two fingers could just reach the
twist, and he set to work on it, moving the rope back and forth, trying
to pull on it. Suddenly it gave.

"One," he said softly. There was another knot immediately under the loop
he had just untied. It was tougher than the first one, but eventually he
made it.

"I think you loosened it a little," Scotty said. "Maybe I can slide a
knot over that bolt and pull loose."

Scotty moved away from him, sliding his hands along the rusty frame. The
boys worked in silence, Rick tackling his own knots again while Scotty
tried to use the rusty bolt as a lever.

Rick had to give up for a while. His hands hurt too much, and he knew
that Scotty's must be hurting, too.

"Listen!" Scotty said suddenly.

A car, or a truck, was approaching the town, from the direction of
Careless Mesa!

The boys tackled the knots with desperation and suddenly Scotty fell
forward as his hands loosened.

Outside, the car braked to a stop. Rick wondered if Mac and Pancho had
come to keep a rendezvous? He couldn't get rid of the feeling that those
two were involved somehow.

"A few minutes more," Scotty gritted.