Part 28 (2/2)

”Right!” came back.

”What's wrong?” came down then in another voice.

”Joe Jollivet--danger,” shouted Gwyn, stepping back to reply. ”Now, come on!” he cried to Hardock; and he led the way along the adit from which, short as had been the time since the pump ceased working, the water had run off.

No more was said as they hurried along as fast as the sloping position necessary allowed; and on stepping out on to the platform, Gwyn looked up in fear and trembling, lest the silken cord should have given way, and fully antic.i.p.ating that the ladder would be vacant.

Hardock uttered a groan, but Gwyn had already begun to climb.

”What are you going to do, lad?” shouted the man, excitedly.

”Go up and hold him on.”

”No, no; I'm stronger than you.” But Gwyn was already making his way up as fast as he could, and Hardock, after a momentary hesitation, followed.

Before they were half way, voices at the top were heard. ”Hold tight!”

shouted the Colonel, in his fierce military fas.h.i.+on. ”Rope!”

Then an order was heard, and a great coil of rope was thrown out, so that it might fall clear of the climbers, whizzed away from the rock with the rings opening out, and directly after, was hanging beside the ladder right to the platform.

There was a clever brain at work on the top of the cliff, for, as Gwyn climbed the ladder, the rope was hauled in so as to keep the end close to his hands; and, seeing this, the boy uttered a sigh of relief, and climbed on, feeling that there was hope of saving his comrade now.

”Shall I send someone down?” shouted the Colonel, who was evidently in command at the top.

”No. We'll do it,” cried Gwyn, breathlessly. ”All right, Joe. We're here.”

There was no response from above him, and at every step Gwyn felt as if his legs were turning to lead, and a nightmare-like sensation came over him of being obliged to keep on always clambering a tremendous ladder without ever reaching to where Joe was bound.

And all this in the very brief s.p.a.ce of time before he reached to where he had tied the insensible lad.

Gwyn uttered a sigh like a groan as he touched Joe's feet. Then, without hesitating, he went higher, till he was on a level, with his feet resting on the same spell, fully expecting moment by moment, as he ascended, that the silk would give way and Joe's fall dash them both down. And, as at last he thrust his arms through the ladder on either side of the boy's neck and then spread them out, so as to secure them both tightly pressed against the spells, his head began to swim, and he felt that he could do no more.

His position saved him, for in those moments he could not have clung there by his hands, his helplessness was too great.

But this was all momentary, and he was recalled to himself by the voice of Hardock.

”I say, lad, hope this ladder's strong enough for all three. Now, then; what's next? Will you tie the rope round him and cast him free?”

Gwyn made no reply. His lips parted, and he strove to speak, but not a word would come.

”D'yer hear?” said Hardock. ”I say, will you make the rope fast round him?”

”Below there!” came from above. ”Make the rope fast round Joe's chest-- tight knots, mind, and send him up first. Be smart!”

”All right, sir,” shouted back Hardock, as he took hold of the rope swinging close to his hand. ”Now, then, Master Gwyn, don't stand there such a gashly while thinking about it. Lay hold and knot it round him.

They'll soon draw him away from under you.”

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