eping up his limbs to his brain, unnerving him
more and more. For he had been already somewhat unnerved, and, in a
manner quite different to his usual habit, he had stepped quite close to
the mouth of his prison, felt about with his left hand till he found a
niche, into which he could partly insert his fingers. Then, leaning
forward, he was able to get his head clear, turn it, and glance upwards
towards the light.

It was so risky a thing to do that he shrank back directly with a
shudder, and closed his eyes for a moment or two, seeming to realise for
the first time the terrible danger of his venture.

He collected himself a little, though, and waited, seeing the rope at
last very faintly, after hearing its descent and splash in the water at
the bottom.

But though he could see it, as he said it was beyond his reach.

Then it seemed to disappear, and come into sight again like a dark
thread or the shadow of a cord. Now it seemed near, now afar off, and
after waiting a few moments he made a snatch at it. As he did so he
felt the fingers of his left hand gliding from the wet slippery niche
into which he had driven them, and but for a violent spasmodic jerk of
his body he would have been plunged headlong down to the bottom of the
shaft.

Shivering like one in an ague he half threw himself upon the rock, and
crept back from the entrance to the gallery, hardly able to answer the
demands of his companion at the mouth above.

He forced himself, though, to answer, fighting all the time with the
nervous dread that was growing upon him; and at last he knew, though he
could hardly see it, that the great stone was being swung to and fro.

"Now, lad, can't you get it?" cried Josh; and once more the hoarse reply
"_No_," came up to him.

"Try now!" cried Josh; and the stone was agitated more and more,
striking the sides of the shaft, sometimes swinging into the gallery a
foot as it seemed, but Will was as if in a nightmare--he could not stir.

"Are you trying?" came down the shaft now in quite a sharp tone, to echo
strangely from the sides.

"No," said Will faintly; and just then the stone struck against the
opposite wall, the rope hung loose, and at the end of a moment or two
there was once more the hollow sullen splash in the water at the bottom.

"Here! hullo there!" cried Josh; "what's up with you, lad?"

"I--I don't know!" cried Will hoarsely. "I shall be better soon."

"Better!" shouted Josh. "What! aren't y