Part 16 (2/2)
Samson!”
”Hullo!” came back. ”Where are you? What are you doing?”
Fred hastily explained their plight.
”Serve you both right,” cried Samson; and his voice, as it rumbled down the hole into the cavern, sounded, as Scarlett thought, like the voice of a giant. ”Well, what are you going to do? Live there?”
”No; you must help us out.”
”Help you out?”
”Yes. How did you know we were here?”
”How did I know you were there, indeed!” growled Samson, with aggravating repet.i.tion of the other's words. ”Why, I knowed you'd be in some mischief as soon as I saw you both go by with that rope.”
”But you didn't see us come down here.”
”No; but I see your clothes lying aside the hole. What did you want here? Somebody's sheep tumbled down again?”
”Hear that?” whispered Fred. ”No, Samson; but don't stand there talking. Did you bring a rope?”
”How could I bring the rope, when you'd got it?”
”Go and fetch another.”
”There isn't one that'll bear you. Can't you throw up the end of that one?”
”Impossible! You must fetch another.”
”And who's to do my gardening while I'm hunting all over Coombeland for ropes as n.o.body won't lend?”
”Look here, Samson,” cried Scarlett. ”Go up to the Hall, and ask Nat to lend you one of ours.”
”Go up and ask my brother Nat to lend me a rope?”
”Yes.”
”I'd sooner go and jump off the cliff. There!”
”Well, you must do something, and pray make haste.”
”What am I to do?”
”I know,” cried Fred. ”Go and get your garden line.”
”Why, that wouldn't bear a cat, let alone a boy like you.”
”You do as I tell you, and bring a big round stone, too, one that you can tie to one end of the line. Be quick.”
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