nd then all at once I shouted to the others, `Hook on,' I
says, `it's got him.'

"I was on the watch for it, you see, and ready, and hauled at once.
Thank goodness, I am strong in the arm if I ain't in the head. So I
hauled, and they hauled, and so had you both up a few feet directly, one
at each end of the rope, and you two couldn't be civil to each other
even then, but must get quarrelling."

"Quarrelling! Nonsense, Ike! I was insensible, and so was he."

"I don't care; you was quarrelling and got yourselves tangled up
together, and the rope twissen round and round under one of them bits o'
wood as goes acrost."

"Yes, I know," I said excitedly, for the thought made me shudder.

"Well, there you was; and the more you was pulled the tighter you was,
just below the bottom of the ladder."

"And what did you do, Ike?"

"Well, I was going down, and was about handing the ropes to Old
Brownsmith's brother, when young Shock hops in on to the ladder like a
wild monkey a'most. Down he goes chattering like anything, and it was
no use to shout to him to have a rope. Afore we knowed it a'most, he
was down and lying flat on his stum. `Lower a bit,' he shouts, and we
lowered, and he untwisted you two and guided you both clear, and stopped
till you were both out, when he came out whistling as if nothing was the
matter."

"A brave fellow!" I cried warmly.

"That's what I said," cried Ike; "but the plumber said it was because he
didn't know there was any danger."

"Well, Ike, what then?"

"Oh, there's no more to tell, only that Sir Francis come and a doctor
was fetched, and the guv'nor said it would be a warning to them two
boys; and young shaver who went down's up at home getting all right, and
you've got all right, and that's all."

That was not all, for I went down the garden--and found Shock, to thank
him for what he had done, but he only turned his back on me and then
walked away; while, feeling faint, I turned to go up to the cottage and
lie down till the sick sensation had gone off.

I had gone about a dozen yards, when, _thump_! a worm-eaten baking pear,
half-grown, hit me on the back, and I did not need telling that it was
thrown by Shock.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

AT THE SAND-PIT.

The plumber came and repaired the pump next day, going down the well
with a couple of men to hold the rope he had round his waist, and I
heard Mr Solomon grumbling and laughing a good deal about the care he
was taking