Part 23 (1/2)
The poor fellow hung on desperately, but he knew froer The perspiration stood in huge drops all over his face, and they began to run together and trickle dohile now a queer thought flashed across his brain, bringing hope for the moment, but only for his heart to sink lower directly after
”No, no,” he groaned, ”I couldn't do it If I could it'd be just fine; but who's to hang on with his hands and double hisself up enough to take aiht into that ring and stopper the rope like a cable going through a hawse hole?
”Can't be done, can't be done; but--ahoy there! Dozens on yer hanging about if yer warn't wanted, and now not a lubber within hail Ahoy there! shi+p ahoy! Is everyone dead, I say? shi+p a-a-hoy-y-y-y!” he yelled, in a despairing voice
”Ahoy there! What's the er it is, Master Aleck Here, quick, or I shall have both s, and you'll have to put me out of my misery then”
”Why, Tom,” cried Aleck, wildly ”What ever--oh!”
The lad wasted no rasped the position as soon as he reached the head of the steps
”Can you hold on a roaned the man, and then in a hoarse whisper--”Rope!”
”I see,” cried Aleck, and he ran back a dozen yards along the pier to where he could see a coil of sh weather to bring back their looped cables and pass the it as he ca, while, end in hand, he reached the top of the steps, went down to where the poor fellow hung on, and shouting out words of encourageot hold of the loose painter below Bodger's, and with the quick deft fingers of one used to the sea and the handling of lines he effected a quick fir of the two ropes
This done, hefroh, and hauled in all the slack
”Now, Toether--ahoy--ahoy!”
He threw all his strength into the hauling, aided by theforce; no little either, for despair gave the poor fellow a spash the ring and whizzed and quivered, it was so tight Then another stay was found and a hitch taken twice round that before Aleck fastened off, and, panting heavily, went up a step or two to the assistance of his huo now, Tom I have her fast”
”Sure, Master Aleck?”
”Yes, certain Let go; and mind what you're about, or you'll slip overboard”
”It's all right, sir,” said the o now”
”Nonsense! What are you thinking about? You've got hold tight as ever”
”Nay, I arn't, Master Aleck I let go when you telleddown into the water”
”Why, Toly, as he placed his hands on his coht as ever”
”Eh?” said the oodness I arn't”
”But you are,” cried Aleck, angrily, as he now grasped the full misfortune to his boat--not the very full, for he was not aware of the hole in her bottohtly round the rope”
”Are they, sir?”
”Yes”