But why do this
on such a night of storm?
The first thing to be done was to ascertain beyond doubt if Thora
was now in the cave. Had it been expedient, I would at once have
gone over the cliff, notwithstanding its frozen condition.
Unfortunately, however, I had no other good rope than the one that
had been taken away. An old one I had which was neither long enough
nor strong enough for the purpose; but even this might be of
service, I thought. We went back to the farm, and Jessie helped me
to lengthen the rope by joining to it several shorter pieces. Then,
judging that Thora, if she were in the cavern, would be suffering
from want of food, we got a small basket and stored it with
tempting eatables--some newly-made scones, two hard-boiled eggs,
and a closed flagon filled with hot tea. Thus prepared we went
together through the snow to the cliff.
Whilst I was tying the rope to the handle of our basket, Jessie
gathered some stones and threw them down the precipice to attract
Thora's attention to the mouth of the cave. I stood out on the
brink of the cliff above the cavern and allowed the line to slip
through my fingers as though I were "heaving the lead," until the
basket touched upon the rock at the entrance to the cave.
For several minutes we waited for some sign that the food was
accepted.
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