ied. Two only
appeared to have possession of their wits. The one was Jack Simpson, the
other was a girl of about twelve, Nelly Hardy. Jack did not hesitate an
instant, but quickly ran down to the shaft, Nelly more quietly, but with
an earnest set face, followed him. Jack threw himself down by the edge
and peered down the shaft.

"Harry, Harry," he shouted, "bee'st killed?" A sort of low cry came up.

"He be alive, he be drowning," Jack exclaimed, "quick, get off them
boords."

Nelly at once attempted to aid Jack to lift the boards aside.

"Coom," Jack shouted to the boys on the top, "what bee'st feared of?
Thou art shamed by this lass here. Coom along and help us."

Several of the boys hurried down, stung by Jack's taunt, and half the
boards were soon pulled off.

"What bee'st goin' to do, Jack?"

"Go down, to be sure," Jack said. "Catch hold o' th' windlass."

"The chain woan't hold you, Jack."

"It maun hold me," Jack said.

"It woan't hold two, Jack."

"Lower away and hold thee jaw," Jack said; "I am going to send him up
first if he be alive; lower away, I say."

Jack caught hold of the end of the rusty chain, and the boys lowered
away as rapidly as they could.

Jack held on stoutly, and continued to shout, "Hold on, Harry, I be
a-coming; another minute and I'll be with 'ee."

The chain held firmly, and Jack swung downward safely.

The shaft was of considerable size, and the openings in the planks had
enabled the air to circulate freely, consequently there was no bad air.
As Jack reached the water he looked eagerly round, and then gave a cry
of joy. Above the water he saw a hand grasping a projecting piece of
rock.

Harry could not swim, but he had grasped the edge of a projecting stone
near which he had fallen, and when his strength had failed, and he had
sunk below the surface, his hand still retained its grasp.

"Lower away," Jack shouted, and the chain was slackened.

Jack could swim a little, just enough to cross the Stokebridge Canal
where the water was only out of his depth for some fifteen feet in the
middle. First he took off his handkerchief from his neck, a strong
cotton birdseye, and keeping hold of the chain before him swam to the
spot where the hand was above water. He had a terrible fear of its
slipping and disappearing below the dark pool, and was careful to make a
firm grasp at it. He was surprised to find the body was of no weight.
Without a moment's delay he managed to bind t