But the fact of their first success sustained them in the hope that success might again be obtained; and, in this belief, they were encouraged to "keep on trying." Half a dozen additional flights were made, but fortune still declining to favour them, they desisted from their efforts, leaving the paper-bird with its breast protruding over the cliff: as if perched there in preparation for a further flight.
By this time the kite had become sadly damaged--its _plumage_ having received rough usage by constant trailing over the rocks and sharp angles of ice.

While up in the air, daylight could be seen shining through it in several places; and it no longer exhibited that majesty of flight that had originally characterised it.

It was evident that repairs would soon be needed; and to discuss this question, as also to consider the propriety of proceeding to make trial at some other place, our adventurers, for a time, discontinued their efforts.
All three were standing together, but at several paces distant from the end of the rope; which they had for the moment abandoned, and which lay negligently along the ground.
They had not taken the slightest precaution to secure it: for it had not occurred to them that there was any risk in leaving it loose.
It was only when too late, that they perceived the mistake they had committed--only when they saw the cord suddenly jerked up from the ground, as if some invisible hand was lifting it aloft into the sky! All three rushed towards it at the same instant.

They were too late.
Already the end of the rope was dangling at such a height above their heads, that even the tallest of them could not touch it with the tips of his fingers.
Ossaroo leaped high into the air in an endeavour to clutch the string.
Caspar ran to procure a pole which lay near, in hopes of retaining it in that way: while Karl ran up the ladder that was resting against the cliff, near which the rope was yet trailing.
The efforts of all three were alike vain.

For a second or two, the end of the cord hung oscillating above their heads--just sufficiently out of reach to tantalise them; and then, as if the invisible hand above had given it another gigantic jerk, it was drawn rapidly and vertically upward, till it finally disappeared over the crest of the cliff!.