It still held fast! Ossaroo and Caspar now joined their strength to his; and all three pulled together.
Hurrah! the kite would not come! The cord kept its place, stretching to the bottom of the cliff, as taut as the main-stay of a ship! Ejaculations of joy escaped from all three at the same instant of time: and for some moments they stood, tightly clutching the rope, and holding it firmly: as if in dread of its being dragged out of their grasp by some hostile and invisible hand.
At length Karl suggested the propriety of making the cord secure, by fastening it to some object.

A large upright stone, close by the bottom of the cliff, appeared to be the most proper thing; and to this they determined upon tying it.
Still keeping it taut--lest by slackening it they might disturb the anchor aloft--they moved hand over hand along the rope, until they had got close to the bottom of the precipice.

Then, while Karl and Caspar still held on, Ossaroo gathered up the slack; and, turning it several times round the stone, securely _belayed_ it.
Nothing more remained but to make the steps--which had been already designed--adjust them in their places--climb up to the top of the cliff--and be free as the mountain breeze, which would there be blowing around them! The thought of such a lucky deliverance filled them once more with joyous imaginings; and they stood around the stone, to which the rope had been attached--congratulating themselves, as if they had already escaped.
They knew there would still be some time required to make the steps, and fix them in their places; but, since they no longer doubted their ability to accomplish the ascent, the interval of time might be passed cheerfully enough; and, with this pleasant anticipation, they went back to their workshop in the best of spirits, and cooked themselves a more careful dinner than they had eaten since the discovery of the daphne trees..