he wrist fast to the chain
with his handkerchief.

"Above there," he shouted.

"Ay," came down.

"Wind up very steadily, don't jerk it now." Slowly the winch revolved
and the body began to rise from the water.

Jack clung to the stone which Harry had grasped and looked upwards. He
wondered vaguely whether it would ever reach the top; he wondered
whether the arm would pull out of the socket, and the body plump down
into the water; he wondered how long he could hold on, and why his
clothes seemed so heavy. He wondered whether, if his strength went
before the chain came down again, his hand would hold on as Harry's had
done, or whether he should go down to the bottom of the shaft. How
far was it! Fifty fathoms, three hundred feet; he was fifty below the
mouth, two hundred and fifty to sink; how long would his body be getting
to the bottom? What would his mother and Bill Haden say? Would they ever
try to get his body up?

[Illustration: IN THE OLD SHAFT--WILL HE BE SAVED?]

He was growing very weak. As from another world he had heard the shout
from above when the body of Harry Shepherd reached the brink, and
afterwards some vague murmurs. Presently his fingers slipped and he went
down in the black pool. The chill of the water to his face, the sudden
choking sensation, brought his senses back for a moment and he struck to
the surface.

There, touching the water, he saw the chain, and as he grasped it, heard
the shouts of his comrades above calling to him. He was himself again
now. The chain being some feet below the surface he managed to pass it
round him, and to twist it in front. He was too exhausted to shout.

He saw a great piece of paper on fire fluttering down, and heard a shout
as its light showed him on the end of the chain; then he felt a jar and
felt himself rising from the water; after that he knew nothing more
until he opened his eyes and found himself lying on the bank.

Nelly Hardy was kneeling by him and his head was in her lap. He felt
various hands rubbing him and slapping the palms of his hands; his
animation was quickly restored. He had swallowed but little water, and
it was the close air of the shaft which had overpowered him.

"Hallo!" he said, shaking himself, "let me up, I be all right; how's
Harry?"

Harry had not yet come round, though some of them, trying to restore him
to consciousness, said that they had heard him breathe once. Jack as
usual took the command, ordered all but two or t