that I can press the bung-hole under
water. Most likely I shall have to do this with my foot, because my
hands will be wanted for holding on. You understand?"

"Oh yes, we see," cried Chris.

"Then down I go," said Griggs.

"Stop!" cried the doctor, and his companions drew a deep breath which
sounded as if they were greatly relieved.

"What's the matter? Knots loose?"

"No, but I don't see that it is necessary for you to go down. We'll let
the barrel go into the water, and it will fill itself."

"Not it," said Griggs. "It will only be battered to pieces against the
rocks there."

"I don't know," said the doctor. "We'll try. I don't think we ought to
let you go down save as a last resource."

"Very well, then," cried Griggs. "Suppose you try."

The doctor had already joined the boys at the rope and helped to lower
the barrel down to the surface once again, to be, as it were, literally
seized by the current; and as those above held on there was a strange,
hollow, echoing noise as it was banged from side to side for a minute or
two, before Griggs cried--

"That'll do. If there's much more of that all the hoops will be torn
off. Haul up a bit. You see I must go, sir."

The barrel was raised a little once more, and as soon as this was done
Griggs turned to Wilton and Bourne, who held the rope fastened about his
breast.

"Ready?" he said.

"Yes," was the reply.

"Keep it just tight enough to feel me, but not enough to hinder me as I
get down from stone to stone. I don't mean to if I can help it, but be
prepared for a slip."

The next minute they could see their companion descending from block to
block, his form growing fainter each few seconds, during which he made
no strain upon the rope, which was steadily drawn through the holders'
hands, the doctor having stepped behind the others to form a third,
while Chris and Ned lay down upon their chests so as to watch the brave
fellow's descent.

"All easy going," said Griggs, his voice coming up out of the gloom, and
sounding hollow and strange.

The rope glided down, and a strange, harsh, rasping sound was made as
the adventurer lowered himself from stone to stone till he must have
been half-way down, when all at once there was a violent tug at the
rope, a crash as of something giving way, and directly after a deep,
echoing roar as of a heavy body plunging into deep water far below.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

THE OLDEN FOLK.

"Pull, pull, p