They had taken the precaution to cut away the bushes to a long distance backwards from the cliff, and so clear the track: there was therefore nothing to impede them while paying out the string.
It was arranged that Karl should have direction of the movement, and give out the signal for them to start.
It was a moment of vivid emotion, as each of he three placed himself in the position assigned to him--Karl by the kite, with its backbone in one hand, and its tail in the other--Ossaroo clutching the rope--and Caspar by his side, holding the great coil in readiness for delivery.
Karl poised the creature upon the stump of its tail; and then, lifting with all his strength--so as to raise it several feet from the ground-- he gave forth the signal at the highest pitch of his voice.
At the same instant, Caspar and the shikaree ran backward--tightening the rope as they went; and like a vast vulture with outspread wings, the bird soared silently upward into the air.
It rose with a regular majestic motion, soon overtopping the trees that grew near, and still mounting on towards the summit of the cliff.
Karl cheered as he saw it ascend.

The others were too busy in the performance of their parts to find time for this expression of triumph; and not until the kite had soared high into the heavens, and appeared many yards above the brow of the beetling precipice, did Caspar and Ossaroo respond to the cheering of Karl.

Then both together gave vent to their excited feelings in a long-continued hurrah! "Let go now, Ossaroo!" cried Karl, shouting so as to be heard above the wind.

"You, Caspar, keep hold of the end of the cord." Ossaroo, obedient to the order, suddenly slackened his hold--at the same time springing towards Caspar, and prudently seizing the end along with him.
The kite, thus released, like some huge bird that had received its death-wound, turned head downwards towards the earth; and, after making various sinuous evolutions through the air, flouting its long tail first in one direction then in another--it was seen darting down towards the acclivity of the mountain.

At length, passing behind the summit of the cliffs, it was no longer visible to the eyes of those who had aided it in its lofty flight, and then left it helplessly to fall.
So far they had succeeded to the utmost of their expectations.