at them.

"Don't you know me, Tom?" said Eustace, speaking quietly. "We are come
to get you away from here, old chap. You know me? Come now!"

But the poor wretch gave no sign of intelligence, as he went on munching
his revolting food. Several times they tried him, each in different
ways, but always without success. It was pitiable.

"We shall have to get him out by force," said Shelton. "But how the
deuce we are going to do it beats me."

"We might lasso him with a _reim_, and haul him up that way," suggested
Hoste.

"I had thought of that," said Eustace. "First of all, though, I'm going
to have another try at the _suaviter in modo_. He may recognise me--
nearer."

"Nearer? What? How? You are never going down there!" cried Shelton.

"That's just what I am going to do. Where's that long _reim_, Josane?"

This was the long, stout rawhide rope they had brought with them in case
it might be wanted for climbing purposes. Quickly Eustace had made a
running noose in it.

"I hope you're in good hard form, Milne," said Shelton gravely. "The
poor chap may try and tear you to pieces. I wouldn't risk it, if I were
you."

"And the snakes?" put in Hoste. "What about the snakes?"

"I shall have to chance them," returned Eustace, having a shrewd
suspicion that the reptiles had been rendered harmless by the extraction
of their fangs, and were, in fact, kept there by the witch-doctress in
order to lend additional horror to this _inferno_, whither she consigned
her victims. Even then the act of descending into that noisome pit,
with the almost certainty of a hand-to-hand struggle with a raging
lunatic of enormous strength, was an ordeal calculated to daunt the
stoutest of hearts. Certain it is that neither of the other two would
have cared to undertake it. More than ever, then, did they endeavour to
dissuade him.

"This is my idea," he said. "I must try and get him round against this
side of the hole. Then, while I hold his attention, Josane must drop
his blanket over his head. Then I'll fling the noose round him, and you
must all man the _reim_, and haul him up like a sack. Only it must be
done sharp. Directly I sing out `_Trek_,' you must haul away for dear
life."

"But how about yourself, old chap?"

"Never mind about me. I can wait down there until you're ready for me.
But when you have got him up here you must tie him up as tight as a log,
and sharp, too. Now, Josane, is your blanket read