ists, and the rope began to glide through
my hands till I let one leg drop from where my foot rested against the
edge of the shaft-mouth, and quick as thought flung it round the rope so
that my foot and ankle formed a check; with the result that I was nearly
jerked off my seat before the rope was stopped.

"Ah!" came from below, and I heard no falling of stones now; but there
was a splashing and dripping sound which for the moment I did not
understand. Once more I thought all was over, for the rope seemed to
slacken; but hope came again.

"Pull up steadily," came in firmer tones; and, though I could not see, I
supposed that Denham had drawn his feet from the water and was trying to
climb up the rope. I knew it was so directly, for he spoke.

"I've got the rope well under my arms," he panted out, "and if you keep
hauling gently, I think perhaps I can climb up the side; but you must be
ready for a slip. Can you pass it round anything?"

"Yes," I said; and as the rope was eased I got both legs back into their
position again, thus hindering my power of hauling dreadfully, but
guarding against the rope being dragged down again rapidly by passing it
over my right leg and under the left.

"Are you sure you can hold on if I slip?" said Denham now.

"Yes, if you come slowly. The rope's strong enough, and I'll get it up
a yard at a time, so that's all the distance you can pull."

"Ah!" he cried; "then I can use both hands, and climb with more
confidence. Now then, I'm coming up."

"Ready!" I shouted; and I toiled on with the perspiration moistening my
hands as I steadily hauled with my right and left alternately, gaining a
foot with one and making it secure over and under my legs with the
other. All the while I could hear him painfully climbing as if gaining
confidence with every yard he came nearer the surface.

"Now rest," he said, and I could hear him breathing hard.

Stones had fallen again and again as he climbed; but I was getting
accustomed to their rattle and sullen plunge, for so long as the rope
proved true they were robbed of their terrible meaning. Just, however,
as my poor comrade said he meant to take a rest, there was another sharp
jerk which told that his foothold had given way, and for a moment or two
I was wondering whether I could hold on, as I listened to the falling of
many stones. Once more he gained a good footing, and from where he
half-hung, half-lay, he began to talk slowly about his p