Now we have got to talk over the best plan of getting him out." When the door was shut, and they had seated themselves on two of the bales, Dick first repeated all that his father had told him, and then, for a long time, they discussed the best plan of attempting an escape.
Both agreed, at once, that it would be next to impossible to get him down the road and out of the gate.

In the first place, they would have to leave by daylight; and even could a disguise be contrived that would deceive the sentries and guard at the gate, all of whom were well acquainted with Captain Holland's figure and appearance, it was certain that, as but two had come up the rock, a third would not be allowed to leave, unless he had a special order from the governor.
They agreed, therefore, that the escape must be made over the precipice.

That this was a matter of great difficulty was evident from the fact that the captain had made no attempt to get away in that manner.

Still, there was hope that, with the assistance of the silk rope Dick had brought with them, it might be managed.
There was, too, the initial difficulty of getting out from the fort to be faced.
"We can do nothing, till we have had a long talk with my father," Dick said.

"I have no doubt that he has thought all these things over, and has, long before this, made up his mind as to the point at which a descent would be easiest.