ill you? I'm a prisoner
here."

"Have you been thrown in there?" asked the voice. "This lady says you
have."

"Yes, I have. I'll tell you a strange story when you get me out."

"All right!" exclaimed the other. "Hold on! We'll go over to the farm and
get a rope. Why, I was here half-an-hour ago, and never dreamt you were
down there. Hold on!"

And the two faces disappeared, their places being taken by the silhouette
of the girl.

"I say!" I cried. "Where am I? What do they call this place?"

"Well, this is one of the fields of Coppin's Farm, just outside Lexden
Park."

"Do you know Melbourne House?" I asked.

"Oh, yes. Miss Morgan's. She's dead," replied the girl's voice from
above. "It's out on the high road--close by."

"Is this well in the middle of a field, then?" I asked.

"In the corner. Some old, half-ruined cottages stood here till a couple
of years ago, when they were pulled down."

"And this was the well belonging to them?"

"I suppose so," she replied, and a few minutes later I heard voices and
saw several heads peering down at me, while now and then gravel fell upon
my unprotected head, causing me to put my hands up to protect it.

"I say!" cried the man's voice who had first addressed me, "We're sending
down a rope. Can you fasten it round you, and then we'll haul you up? I
expect you're in a pretty state, aren't you?"

"Yes; I'm not very presentable, I fear," I laughed.

Then down came a stout farmer's rope, several lengths of which were
knotted together after some delay, until its end dangled before me.

"I hope you've joined it all right," I cried. "I don't want to drop
down!"

"No, it's all right!" one of the men--evidently a labourer--declared.
"You needn't fear, mister."

I made a knot in the end, then, placing it around both my thighs, made a
slip knot and clung to the rope above. This took me some minutes. Then,
when all was ready, I gave the signal to haul.

"Slowly!" I shouted, for I was swinging from side to side of the well,
bruising my elbows and knees. "Haul slower! I'm getting smashed to
pieces!"

They heeded me, and with care I was gradually drawn up to the blessed
light of day--a light which, for a few minutes, nearly blinded me, so
exhausted and dazed was I.

Naturally I was beset by a hundred queries as to how I came to be
imprisoned in such a place.

But I sat down upon the ground, a strange, begrimed and muddy figure, no
doubt, gazing about me for a few mom