"WHAT SHALL WE DO?"
I seemed to be standing there some time, but Mr Solomon afterwards told
me it was not a moment, before I looked up, and seeing him returning
with the plumber, ran towards them swiftly, shouting for help.
The two men started running directly, and as we reached the well
together there was Philip lying upon the ground beside the path, face
downwards, and with his fingers thrust into his ears.
"Now, then," shouted Mr Solomon to the plumber, as Ike came running up
straight across beds, bushes, everything. "Now, then, you said the well
was safe; go down and fetch him up."
The plumber went upon one knee, seized the top of the ladder, and got up
again shaking his head.
"I can't afford it," he said. "I've a wife and bairns at home."
"I--I daren't go down," groaned Mr Solomon. "Man, man, what shall we
do?"
"It scares me," growled Ike hoarsely; "but I've got no wife and no
bairns; and if Master Grant here says, `Go,' I'll go, though," he added
slowly, "it's going down into one's grave."
"Can you see him, Grant?" cried Mr Solomon.
"Yes; down on the wood," I said in a hoarse whisper; "he's lying across
a beam with his head down. What shall we do?"
As I asked this piteously I raised my head, to see Philip close by me
kneeling on the gravel, his eyes half closed, his face of a yellowish
grey, his hands clenched, and his teeth chattering.
No one spoke, and as I looked from one man to the other every face was
pale and stony-looking, for the men felt that to go down into that
carbonic acid gas was to give up life.
I felt horribly frightened, and as if I were sinking somewhere. I
glanced round, and there was the beautiful garden all flowers and fruit,
with the glorious sunshine over all. Below me that terrible pit with
the falling whispering water, and a chill seeming to rise out of its
depths.
As I looked I saw Shock coming towards us at a run, as if he divined
that something was the matter, and the sight of him made me think of Mr
Brownsmith's garden and my happy life there, and I gave a low sob as my
eyes filled with tears.
I tell you I felt horribly frightened, and all this that has taken so
long to describe seemed to pass in a flash--almost as I started from
gazing down the well to my feet.
"Tie the rope round me," I said huskily. "You can pull me up if I
fall."
"Well done, young un!" shouted the plumber, catching up the coil of
rope. "I like pluck, I do."
"You stand aside," cried Ike, snatching the rope from him and giving him
a rough thrust with his elbow. "I'll do this here."
He ran the rope rapidly through his hands, and secured one end about my
chest.
Then he made a running noose at the other end.
"Look here," he cried. "You take this here noose in your hand, my lad;
there's plenty of rope to reach down double. When you gets to him put
it over his arm or his leg, or anywhere, and pull it tight. I'll take
care o' you, my boy, and have you up again like a shot."
"Shake hands, Ike," I said, all of a tremble.
"Ay, I will, boy."
"Go, and God help you!" groaned Mr Solomon; and the next instant, with
the noose in my hand and just feeling the rope drag on my chest, I
stepped on to the ladder, clasped it as Courtenay had done, and let
myself slide down.
As I went I looked up, and it seemed dark, for there was a ring of heads
round the top; but below as I looked it was still darker.
Down, down, with a curious catching of the breath, and a strange
sensation of this not being real seizing me. Then I seemed to wake up
and find myself where the water was dripping, and the well whispering,
and still I slid down till I was on the slimy platform where the foot of
the ladder rested, but young Dalton was not there, but some ten feet
down, on the next crosspiece of timber.
"Lower me down," I cried, and hanging by the rope I felt myself lowered
more and more, and that I was slowly spinning round; but as I swung to
and fro I caught at something I could dimly see, and found it was the
great slippery pipe that went down into the water, and guided myself by
that.
Only about ten feet; but the distance in that curious state of dread
that made me feel as if my breath was painful and difficult, seemed ten
times as great. The rope seemed to be compressing the bones of my chest
tighter and tighter, and twice over I felt that I was in amongst the
foul air that I believed would kill me before I reached the crosspiece
on which the lad hung.
The next minute I was seated astride the slippery piece of oak with the
water about half a dozen feet below me, and I saw that the least touch
would send Courtenay off.
I remembered my lesson though, and, forgetting my dread in the
excitement, I slipped the rope over the hanging arm nearest to me, right
up to the shoulder, and was in the act of drawing it tight, when, as I
bent down, a curious choking sensation seized me, and all was blank.
Ike told me what took place afterwards, for I knew nothing more till I
opened my eyes, and found that I was lying down, and several people
whose faces looked misty and confused were about me.
I felt sick, and my head throbbed violently. There was a weight over me
too, and a curious feeling of confusion, in the midst of which a cool
hand was laid upon my fore-head, and I heard some one say:
"He's coming round fast."