The next minute I was seated on the stone, with my feet resting on the side of the shaft-hole, and drawing up the raw-hide rope hand over hand. After pulling up some feet of it I came upon a knot which felt secure, and I then hauled again till I came upon another, also well made. With the rope gathering in rings about my knees and behind me, I kept hauling till I came to knot after knot, all quite firm. I found that the rope was dripping with water, and knew that it had been just drawn out of the pool below. The end of the rope came to hand directly; and, with trembling fingers, my first act was to tie a knot a few inches up before doubling the strong raw-hide plait and tying it again in a loop, which I tested, and found I could easily slip it over my head and pass my arras through so as to get it beneath the armpits. I had the rope off again in a few seconds, held it ready, and shouted down to Denham, who had been perfectly still. "Now then," I cried; "can you hear what I say?" "Yes," came in a strange, hollow tone. "Look out! I'm going to lower you a rope with a loop all ready tied. Slip it over your head and under your arms." "Ah!" he said softly; and, as I rapidly lowered down the rope, though the tone seemed only like an expiration of the breath, it yet sounded firmer than that "Yes" of a few moments before. "I can't see, old fellow," I cried, when I had paid out what I thought must be enough; "but this ought to be near you now. Can you see it?" "Yes; but it is a dozen feet too high," he replied. "It won't reach me." "Yes, it will," I roared, for there was a despairing tone in those last words. "Plenty more. Look out!" I lowered away, and then shouted again: "That enough?" "Yes," he said, with a little more spirit in his tone; "it's long enough, but quite out of my reach--a couple of yards away, and I dare not move." "I'll swing it to and fro till it comes close. Look out! Here goes." I began to swing the rope; and as it went to and fro it sent small stones rattling down and then splashing into the water, making me shiver. But they evidently fell clear of Denham, who sent a thrill of encouragement through me when he now spoke more cheerily. "That's right," he said, and his words were repeated by the echoes. "A little more--a little more. No. Harder. It keeps catching among the stones. Give a good swing." I did as he told me, and then nearly let go, for he uttered a wild cry, almost a shriek. The next moment there was a peculiar rattling sound; the lamp flashed out brilliantly and lighted up the shaft; there was a sharp hiss, followed by a splash, and then all was in darkness.