"Are you asleep, below there?" shouted the Colonel. "Hold fast, and
I'll send someone down."

"Nay, nay!" yelled Hardock, "the ladder won't bear another. I'll get it
done directly. Now, Master Gwyn, pull yourself together, and make this
rope fast. D'yer hear?"

"Yes," gasped the boy at last. "Wait a minute and I'll try."

"Wait a minute and you'll try," growled the man. "We shall all be down
directly. My word! What is the use o' boys. Hi! hold fast and I'll
try and get up above you and tie the rope myself."

"No, no!" cried Gwyn, frantically. "You can't climb over us."

"But I must, lad, I aren't going to get round inside and try it that
way. I aren't a boy now."

"No, don't try that," panted Gwyn, breathlessly. "You'd pull us off.
I'm coming round again. I'll try soon, but I don't seem to have any
breath."

"Hi! below there! what are you about?" shouted the Colonel. "Make that
rope fast."

"Yes, sir; yes, sir; directly," yelled Hardock. "You, must wait."

"Make it fast round Jollivet," shouted the Colonel.

"All right, sir. Now, Master Gwyn, you hear what your guv'nor says?"

"Yes, I hear, Sam," panted the lad; "and I'm trying to do it. I'll
begin as soon as ever I can, but I feel that if I let go, Joe would come
down on you. He has no strength left in him, and--and I'm not much
better."

"And you'll let go, too," growled the man to himself, "and if you do,
it's all over with me." Then aloud: "Hold tight, my lad; I'm coming
up."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

AN IGNOMINIOUS ASCENT.

"Am I to send someone down?" cried the Colonel, angrily.

"No, father," shouted Gwyn, his father's voice seeming to give him new
force. "The ladder won't bear four."

"Then make fast that knot, sir. Quick, at once!"

"Yes, father," said the boy, as a thrill of energy ran through him, and
he felt as if he could once more do something toward relieving himself
from the strange feeling of inertia which had fettered every sense.

"You get up higher," growled Hardock, "and hold on, my lad."

"No. Keep where you are," cried Gwyn, whose voice now sounded firm.
"If I leave him, he'll go."

"Nay, you go on; I'll take care o' that," said Hardock. "Up with you!"

"Keep down, I say," cried Gwyn, fiercely.

"Are you ready?" shouted the Colonel.

"In another minute, father," cried Gwyn; and, drawing out one arm, he
made a snatch at the rope, drew it from Hardock's hand, and then hauled
it higher by using h