He ran the rope rapidly through his hands, and secured one end about my
chest.
Then he made a running noose at the other end.
"Look here," he cried. "You take this here noose in your hand, my lad;
there's plenty of rope to reach down double. When you gets to him put
it over his arm or his leg, or anywhere, and pull it tight. I'll take
care o' you, my boy, and have you up again like a shot."
"Shake hands, Ike," I said, all of a tremble.
"Ay, I will, boy."
"Go, and God help you!" groaned Mr Solomon; and the next instant, with
the noose in my hand and just feeling the rope drag on my chest, I
stepped on to the ladder, clasped it as Courtenay had done, and let
myself slide down.
As I went I looked up, and it seemed dark, for there was a ring of heads
round the top; but below as I looked it was still darker.
Down, down, with a curious catching of the breath, and a strange
sensation of this not being real seizing me. Then I seemed to wake up
and find myself where the water was dripping, and the well whispering,
and still I slid down till I was on the slimy platform where the foot of
the ladder rested, but young Dalton was not there, but some ten feet
down, on the next crosspiece of timber.
"Lower me down," I cried, and hanging by the rope I felt myself lowered
more and more, and that I was slowly spinning round; but as I swung to
and fro I caught at something I could dimly see, and found it was the
great slippery pipe that went down into the water, and guided myself by
that.
Only about ten feet; but the distance in that curious state of dread
that made me feel as if my breath was painful and difficult, seemed ten
times as great. The rope seemed to be compressing the bones of my chest
tighter and tighter, and twice over I felt that I was in amongst the
foul air that I believed would kill me before I reached the crosspiece
on which the lad hung.
The next minute I was seated astride the slippery piece of oak with the
water about half a dozen feet below me, and I saw that the least touch
would send Courtenay off.
I remembered my lesson though, and, forgetting my dread in the
excitement, I slipped the rope over the hanging arm nearest to me, right
up to the shoulder, and was in the act of drawing it tight, when, as I
bent down, a curious choking sensation seized me, and all was blank.
Ike told me what took place afterwards, for I knew nothing more till I
opened my eyes, and found that I was lying down, and several people
whose faces looked misty and confused were about me.