lipped round it,
and drawn tightly, binding both together.

They were safely held so long as he kept up a tension upon the end of
the silk; and this with great effort he was able to do with his left
hand, while, working in the opposite way, he passed the second end round
the two wrists once, dragged it as hard as he could, and then tied the
first portion of a simple knot. Then he dragged again and again,
bringing his teeth to bear in holding the shorter end of the
handkerchief, while he tugged and tugged till the silk cut into the
boy's flesh, and his wrists were dragged firmly down upon the spell.
There the second portion of the knot was tied; and, feeling that Joe
could not slip, he bound the longer end round again twice, brought the
first end to meet it, and once again tied as hard as he could.

Breathless with the exertion of holding on by his crooked arms while he
worked, and with the perspiration streaming down his face, he stood
there panting for a few moments, holding on tightly, and peering through
the spells to make sure that his knots were secure, and the silken cord
sufficiently tight to stay Joe's wrists from being dragged through.
Then he tried the fastening again, satisfying himself that Joe was as
safe as hands could make him, and that his arms could not possibly be
dragged away from the spell to which they were tied, even if his feet
slipped from the round below.

Satisfied at this, Gwyn's heart gave a throb of satisfaction.

"You can't fall, Joe," he said. "I don't want to leave you, but I must
go for help."

There was no reply.

"Can you hear what I say?" cried Gwyn.

Still no reply; and, feeling that he might safely leave him, Gwyn
hesitated for a moment or two as to whether he should go up or down.

The latter seemed to be the quicker way, and, after descending a step or
two, he threw arms and legs round the sides of the ladder, and let
himself slide to the platform.

Here he stood for a moment to look up and see Joe hanging as he had left
him. Then, stooping down, he entered the adit, out of which the
clanging sound of the huge pump went on volleying, while the water kept
up its hissing and rushing sound.

"Hardock!" he shouted, with his hands to his lips, and the cry
reverberated in the narrow passage; but, though he shouted again and
again, his voice did not penetrate, for the sound of the pumping and
rushing of water, and the boy had to make his way right to where Hardock
was anx