ail him; "pray take care."

"Take care! why, of course I shall. Don't catch me letting go of the
rope in a place like this. Here goes!"

He reached up as high as he could, holding the rope firmly, and then
swung himself out of the gallery over the black void, becoming visible
to Will as the faint light from above fell upon his upturned face. Then
with legs twined round the rope, Josh began to draw himself up a little
bit at a time, the work being evidently very laborious, while Will held
the rope and saw him disappear as he ascended beyond the gallery; but
the rope the lad held was like an electric communication, the efforts of
the climber being felt through the strong fibres as he went up and up.

Then there was a pause, and as Josh rested it was evident that he could
not keep himself quite stationary, but slipped a few inches at a time.

Then he started once more, and as the cord jerked and swung, the loud
expirations of the climber's breath kept coming down to where, with
moist palms and dewy forehead, Will listened.

How high was he now? How much farther had he got by this? Josh's arms
were like iron, and the strength in that deformed wrist and hand was
tremendous.

Up he went; Will could feel it; and he longed to gaze up and see how he
progressed; but somehow that horrible shrinking sensation came over him,
and he could only wait.

How long it seemed, and how the rope jerked! Was it quite strong
enough? Suppose Josh were to fall headlong into the black water below!

Will shuddered, and tried to keep all these coward fancies out of his
mind; but they would come as he stood listening and holding the rope
just tight enough to feel the action of his friend.

What a tremendous effort it seemed; and how long he was! Surely he must
be at the top by now.

"Nearly up, Josh?" he shouted.

"Up! No: not half-ways," replied the fisherman. "She's too thin, and
as wet as wet. I can't get a hold."

Will's heart sank, for he felt that there was failure in his companion's
words; and with parched lips and dry throat he listened to the climber's
pantings and gaspings as he toiled on, paused, climbed again, and then
there was a strange hissing noise that made Will hold his breath. The
rope, too, was curiously agitated, not in a series of jerks, but in a
continuous vibrating manner, and before Will could realise what it all
meant Josh was level with the gallery once more, swinging to and fro in
the faint light.