They had already ascended4 one of the isolated5 cairns of rock, that stood within the valley nearly opposite this part of the cliff; and from its top they had been able to get a view—though not a very good one—of a portion of the sloping declivity6 of the mountain above. It appeared to be covered with snow—here and there supporting huge masses of something, either boulders7 of rock, or dark-coloured lumps of ice. The eyes of our adventurers rested on these with the greatest interest: as they had done upon a former occasion, when about to send the bearcoot among them. Now they had conceived higher hopes than ever—founded upon the presence of these masses. If they should succeed in flying the kite into their midst, and there dropping it, it was not only possible, but highly probable, that it might either get the rope warped9 around one of them, or itself become caught between two, so as to hold fast. To render this the more practicable, they had furnished its wings with spurs—in other words, they had left the cross-piece of bamboo to extend on each side about a foot beyond the edge of the paper; and near the end of each extension, they had placed other pieces transversely, and lashed10 them firmly—so that they might act as the flukes of an anchor.
They had spared neither pains nor ingenuity11 to ensure success. They had done all, that man could do, to deserve it.
Fortune was so far favourable12, as not to keep them long in suspense13. Only two or three days had passed, when one came, on which the wind blew in their favour—exactly as they wanted it. It was a stiff breeze, steady in the right direction, and strong enough to carry up the largest of paper kites.
Proceeding14 to the place, where the ladders were set, with the huge bird carried in the arms of Ossaroo, they made ready for its flight. Karl was to start the kite, and guide its ascent15 from the ground; while Caspar and the shikaree were to run out with the rope: as it would require the united strength of both to hold such a broad-breasted bird against the wind. They had taken the precaution to cut away the bushes to a long distance backwards16 from the cliff, and so clear the track: there was therefore nothing to impede17 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 backbone18 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 poised19 the creature upon the stump20 of its tail; and then, lifting with all his strength—so as to raise it several feet from the ground—he gave forth21 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 majestic23 motion, soon overtopping the trees that grew near, and still mounting on towards the summit of the cliff.
Karl cheered as he saw it ascend3. 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 beetling24 precipice, did Caspar and Ossaroo respond to the cheering of Karl. Then both together gave vent8 to their excited feelings in a long-continued hurrah25!
“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 prudently26 seizing the end along with him.
The kite, thus released, like some huge bird that had received its death-wound, turned head downwards27 towards the earth; and, after making various sinuous28 evolutions through the air, flouting29 its long tail first in one direction then in another—it was seen darting30 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. The kite had alighted, just where they wanted it.
But now arose the question—would it stay there? In other words, would it be caught among the rocks, and hold fast?
If not, they would have to fly it again and again, until it should get fastened above, or until the experiment should prove a failure.
Karl stepped forward to decide the point—the others looking on with an eagerness of glance, that betrayed how deep was their interest in the result.
Karl’s hand trembled as he laid hold of the cord. At first he pulled upon it in a gentle way—hand over hand—so as merely to take in the slack.
At length it began to tighten22, requiring greater strength to take it in: as if the kite was still free, and dragging over the snow.
This produced anything but a pleasant anticipation31; and as the rope came to hand, foot after foot, and yard after yard, a shadow, that had stolen over the countenances32 of all three, became sensibly darker.
Only for a short while did this shadow remain. It vanished, more suddenly than it had arisen: when they saw the running cord become abruptly33 checked, and then tighten as Karl continued to draw it in. He pulled upon it, at first exerting only a part of his strength, as if afraid that it might again come loose. After awhile, gaining confidence, he pulled with all his power. 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 taut34 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 dread35 of its being dragged out of their grasp by some hostile and invisible hand.
At length Karl suggested the propriety36 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 determined37 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 joyous38 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 interval39 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.
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1
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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7
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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8
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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9
warped
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| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
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10
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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11
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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12
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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13
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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15
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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impede
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止 | |
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backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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beetling
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| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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flouting
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| v.藐视，轻视( flout的现在分词 ) | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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31
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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33
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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36
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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37
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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