ull!" cried Chris wildly.

"No, no!" came from below. "I'm all right. Only a big stone I
loosened. Wait a moment, and then let me go on."

Chris uttered a hoarse gasp, and turned faint, while Ned felt the
hide-rope attached to the barrel turn wet and slippery in his hands.

"Go on! Gently!" cried Griggs, and the rope was once more allowed to
glide steadily down; the rasping of boots on the blocks of stone below
continued, and at the end of another minute ceased as Griggs shouted
up--

"There, I'm all right--standing on a big block with the water rushing
along about a foot below me. Keep tight hold now. You, boys, ease down
the barrel till I shout. Don't let it go when the water grabs it.
Lower away. Right! I have it; now ease a little more and a little
more. Now keep tight; I'm going to force it under water."

It seemed to Chris that he could see everything quite plainly as their
hands which held the hide-ropes were drawn lower and lower.

"That's right," came up in Griggs' hoarse, echoing voice, which sounded
as if he were panting from the way in which he was exerting himself; and
then with the barrel rope jerking violently, the boys felt a peculiar
thrill and a sensation as if the weight was increasing for what seemed,
though only a few minutes, a terribly long time.

"All right!" at last. "She's full. Now, then, haul up. I'm safe here,
on good standing-ground. Two hold my rope. Up with the barrel."

Those at the surface needed no second order, but began to haul away,
Chris's hands now growing wet as a horrible thought made him more
nervous; and that thought was, What would be the consequence if the rope
broke or the barrel slipped from its fastenings?

He shuddered again and again at the idea, as with Bourne now helping,
the barrel was drawn higher and higher, and then all at once was checked
by catching against some projection.

"Lower it a little," whispered Chris huskily, and the weight was allowed
to descend a few inches, being in the gloom as it went down.

"Up now," cried Chris again, and the next moments were exciting in the
extreme, as he anticipated another check when the projection was
reached. But Chris's gasp turned into a faint hurrah as the barrel
hoops scraped over the projection, and it came up now hand over hand
till it reached the surface and was drawn right away to stand amongst
the loose stones.

"Got it?" came from below.

"Yes," cried the doctor. "All right. Can