CHAPTER XIII
THE PEQUOT QUEEN
The first pull on the rope resulted only in
sawing through the turf and earth at the
edge of the cliff until the rock was reached. The
next tug brought a few inches more at the cost
of terrific effort, for the rope must pass at almost
right angles over the raw edge of the rock.
Laurie, his hands clasping the rope above his
head to lessen the strain across his chest, was
showered with earth. Another heave, and Ned
and Bob went back a scant foot, Polly, her weight
on the rope, tightening the slack around the tree.
Once more the two boys dug their heels into the
ground and strained. This time there was no
result. They tried again. It was as though they
were pulling at the cliff itself. The rope tautened
under their efforts but yielded not an inch.
"Must be . . . caught!" gasped Bob.
Ned, weak from that hurried climb up the hill, nodded, and closed his eyes dizzily. The mo-
