He had for some time carried this idea in his mind; but had declined communicating it, to the others, until after witnessing the test of the eagle's strength.

Now that the bearcoot had been "weighed and found wanting," you might suppose that the creature would be no longer cared for--excepting to furnish them with a meal.
This was the reflection of Karl and Ossaroo; but Caspar thought differently.

He was impressed with a belief, that the bird might still do them a service--the very one which he had undertaken so unsuccessfully.
Caspar reflected, and very correctly: that it was the extra weight that had hindered the eagle from ascending.

It was not so much beyond his strength neither.

Perhaps had it been only half as heavy, or even a little more, he might have succeeded in carrying it over the cliff.
What if the weight should be reduced?
To make the rope more slender did not enter into Caspar's calculations.
He knew this could not be done: since it was a point already discussed and decided upon.
But how if the rope were to be _shorter_, than that which had been theoretically considered?
How if it were to be only fifty yards, instead of one hundred and fifty?
Of course, then the eagle might fly with it, to whatever height its length would allow.
Caspar felt satisfied of this fact; nor did either of the others question its truth--but what then?
"What," inquired Karl, "would be the use of a rope of fifty yards, though the eagle might carry it up to the moon?
Even at the lowest part of the cliffs--should the bearcoot take one end over, the other would be fifty yards above our heads ?" "Not a yard, brother--not a foot.