the hold. There is an electric drill with plenty of waterproof

cable to reach from the ship's dynamos to the cliff-top when the

_Toreador_ is anchored at a safe distance from shore, and there is

sufficient half-inch iron rod to build a ladder from the base to

the top of the cliff. It would be a long, arduous and dangerous

work to bore the holes and insert the rungs of the ladder from the

bottom upward; yet it can be done.

"I also have a life-saving mortar with which we might be able to

throw a line over the summit of the cliffs; but this plan would

necessitate one of us climbing to the top with the chances more

than even that the line would cut at the summit, or the hooks at

the upper end would slip.

"My third plan seems to me the most feasible. You all saw a number

of large, heavy boxes lowered into the hold before we sailed. I

know you did, because you asked me what they contained and commented

upon the large letter '_H_' which was painted upon each box. These

boxes contain the various parts of a hydro-aeroplane. I purpose

assembling this upon the strip of beach described in Bowen's

manuscript--the beach where he found the dead body of the apelike

man--provided there is sufficient space above high water; otherwise

we shall have to assemble it on deck and lower it over the side.

After it is assembled, I shall carry tackle and ropes to the

cliff-top, and then it will be comparatively simple to hoist the

search-party and its supplies in safety. Or I can make a sufficient

number of trips to land the entire party in the valley beyond the

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