The first thing to be done was to ascertain beyond doubt if Thora was now in the cave.  Had it been expedient, I would at once have gone over the cliff, notwithstanding its frozen condition.  Unfortunately, however, I had no other good rope than the one that had been taken away.  An old one I had which was neither long enough nor strong enough for the purpose; but even this might be of service, I thought.  We went back to the farm, and Jessie helped me to lengthen the rope by joining to it several shorter pieces.  Then, judging that Thora, if she were in the cavern, would be suffering from want of food, we got a small basket and stored it with tempting eatables—­some newly-made scones, two hard-boiled eggs, and a closed flagon filled with hot tea.  Thus prepared we went together through the snow to the cliff.

Whilst I was tying the rope to the handle of our basket, Jessie gathered some stones and threw them down the precipice to attract Thora’s attention to the mouth of the cave.  I stood out on the brink of the cliff above the cavern and allowed the line to slip through my fingers as though I were “heaving the lead,” until the basket touched upon the rock at the entrance to the cave.

For several minutes we waited for some sign that the food was accepted.  Twice the line was drawn up a little, and the weight of the basket was still felt.  I called for more stones to throw down, at the same time kicking a loose piece of rock well out, so that it fell with a loud splash into the deep water.  Jessie went about picking up stones from among the snow, when suddenly an exclamation escaped her.

“Eh, Hal!” said she; “why here’s your magic stone!”

“Impossible!” I exclaimed, unable to believe her.

“I tell you it is, indeed!” she protested; and she brought the stone to me, holding it in the palm of her hand.

I at once recognized the viking’s talisman.  And now I felt sure that Thora was in the cave, and that she had probably dropped the stone by some accident before going over the brink of the cliff, for it was at the very edge that Jessie found it.

When I tried the rope again, I felt that the basket was being held.  Then the line was drawn further down, and again set loose, and I drew it up.  The basket had been emptied.

In the afternoon, as the snow had abated, I went out, though without stating my intention, and returned to the top of the cliff, determined upon making the descent to the cave and hearing from Thora her reason for this strange freak of hers, before venturing to inform them at Crua Breck that I had discovered the girl’s hiding place.  The danger of a descent was very great, for the face of the rocks was in parts coated with frozen snow, and I knew that besides the difficulty of climbing with cold hands there was the possibility of slipping upon the icy surface of the ledges.  But now I had my viking stone to protect me, and with less hesitation than the occasion warranted I proceeded to climb down the precipice, and was fortunate enough to reach the bottom without accident.