's scarf in his teeth and proceeded to turn him into a ladder,
by whose means he might get well into the chimney-like rift, climb up,
and then lower down the scarf-rope to help the rest.

As I expected, the moment Jimmy caught Jack Penny's shoulders and placed
one foot upon him my companion doubled up like a jointed rule, and Jimmy
and he rolled upon the floor of the cave.

At any other time we should have roared with laughter at Jimmy's disgust
and angry torrent of words, but it was no time for mirth, and the doctor
took Jack Penny's place as the latter drawled out:

"I couldn't help it; my back's so weak. I begin to wish I hadn't come."

"Dat's fine," grunted Jimmy, who climbed rapidly up, standing on the
doctor's shoulders, making no scruple about planting a foot upon his
head, and then we knew by his grunting and choking sounds that he was
forcing his way up.

The moment he had ceased to be of use the doctor stood aside, and it was
as well, for first a few small stones fell, then there was a crash, and
I felt that Jimmy had come down, but it only proved to be a mass of
loose stone, which was followed by two or three more pieces of earth and
rock.

Next came a tearing sound as of bushes being broken and dragged away,
and to our delight the smoke seemed to rush up the rift with so great a
current of air that fresh breath of life came to us from the mouth of
the cave, and with it hope.

In those critical moments everything seemed dream-like and strange. I
could hardly see what took place for the smoke, my companions looking
dim and indistinct, and somehow the smoke seemed to be despair, and the
fresh hot wind borne with the crackling flames that darted through the
dense vapour so much hope.

"Ti-hi come 'long nextums," whispered Jimmy; and the black ran to the
opening eagerly, but hesitated and paused, ending by seizing me and
pushing me before him to go first.

"No, no," I said; "let's help the wounded man first."

"Don't waste time," said the doctor angrily. "Up, Joe, and you can help
haul."

I obeyed willingly and unwillingly, but I wasted no time. With the help
of the doctor and the scarf I had no difficulty in climbing up the rift,
which afforded good foothold at the side, and in less than a minute I
was beside Jimmy, breathing the fresh air and seeing the smoke rise up
in a cloud from our feet.

"Pull!" said the doctor in a hoarse whisper that seemed to come out of
the middle of the smoke.

J