It seemed to the boy as though the pole must bend and snap, what with the pressure of the heavy wind and the weight of his body! Slowly, laboriously, mechanically, like one in a trance, Dick employed his left hand in patiently disentangling the black web from the trap in which it had been caught.
At last the scarf was free.

Most cautiously Dick lowered his left hand, tucking the jeweled fabric carefully into the inner pocket of his coat.
"I---I---guess---it safe---in there," he muttered, hardly realizing that he was saying any thing.
Dave, from below, had looked on, fascinated.

Now that he saw the major part of the daring feat accomplished, Darrin did not make the mistake of shouting any advice to his comrade.

He knew that any sudden shout might attract Prescott's attention in a way to cause him to lose his head.
Slowly---oh, so slowly! Dick came down.

It seemed as though, at last, he understood his danger to the full and was afraid.
The truth was, Prescott realized that, with all the vibrating of the staff in the wind, his muscular power was being sapped out of him.
Dave Darrin was down again, crouching on top of the spire, when Dick reached him.
"Just touch your feet, Dick!" Darrin called coolly.