"We are imprissoned here without much hope. But do not worry about the rope bekos Tom is undoing his pullover and we will let it down for the rope. Peter sends her love to all. Tell Uncle Micah to keep a brave heart as all will be well for him as a brighter day has dawned for him and he can claim his heart's desire. We have solved the greatest mistery of all. Love to Henry or Humphrey whichever it is we forget. Up the Lone Pine from Richard and Mary.

"P.S. - Urgent. We are starving specially Dickie."

"What's all this nonsense about Uncle Micah's brave heart, I wonder?" David whispered to Jenny. "But it's not a bad idea to unravel a pullover... I'd better tell the old man that, but I don't think I'll give him the other message..."

By the time he had reached the grown-ups, Tom had appeared at the window.

"Now then," he called. "I hope it'll reach, but I've tied my knife at the end. Fix the end of the rope to the wool and I'll haul it up."

The scheme worked well, and to the end of the thin rope was tied a thicker rope which was soon in Tom's eager hands.

"Can you fix the end securely to something inside, lad?" Uncle Micah called. "Or had you better pass it over the cable wire and we'll make a rope cradle for the little 'uns?"

"I can do better than that, sir. I've found a hook and a pulley. If I can get this rope through the pulley we're O.K... O.K. we are, sir... If the cable can carry the car it can take our weight one at a time... Here she comes, sir."

Now it was plain sailing and David and Jenny watched in admiration as Humphrey deftly made a cradle out of rope and straps of the haversack and fixed it firmly to the end of the hauling rope. Then it was tested with David in the cradle while Humphrey heaved him up a few feet.

"Can you manage those little 'uns?" Uncle Micah called. "Are you there, Petronella? Can you and that lad get them one at a time into the cradle and push 'em off safe?"

"Yes, we'll manage, Uncle," Peter called. "Trust us; but let's hurry, 'cos it's getting dark."

Up went the cradle and Tom hauled it over the edge, and an excited squeaking betrayed Mary as the first passenger. Down below the policeman and Humphrey took the strain, Tom pushed the cradle gently clear of the cliff from above and down she came.