"Denham!" I yelled, and I let the rest of the rope run through my hands till it could hang taut, meaning to slide down it and go to his assistance, for I was sure that all depended upon me now. I was already changing my position, when--my sinking heart, which seemed to suggest that I was about to descend to certain death, giving a sudden bound, and I felt choking--Denham spoke again. "I couldn't stop the lamp," he said; "the rope caught it and knocked it off the ledge; but I've got hold." "Hurrah!" I suppose I shouted that word, but it came out involuntarily. Then I listened, my heart beating painfully, for I could hear the poor fellow moving now, but, as it seemed, sending stone after stone rolling and splashing into the water. However, nerved into action again, I did as he bade me, all the time fearing it was too late, for he shouted hoarsely: "Pull up, Val--pull! I'm going down." My hands darted one over the other, the slack seeming endless as I heard a low rushing sound mingled with the splashing of falling stones. Then there was a sharp jerk at my wrists, and the rope began to glide through my hands till I let one leg drop from where my foot rested against the edge of the shaft-mouth, and quick as thought flung it round the rope so that my foot and ankle formed a check; with the result that I was nearly jerked off my seat before the rope was stopped. "Ah!" came from below, and I heard no falling of stones now; but there was a splashing and dripping sound which for the moment I did not understand. Once more I thought all was over, for the rope seemed to slacken; but hope came again. "Pull up steadily," came in firmer tones; and, though I could not see, I supposed that Denham had drawn his feet from the water and was trying to climb up the rope. I knew it was so directly, for he spoke. "I've got the rope well under my arms," he panted out, "and if you keep hauling gently, I think perhaps I can climb up the side; but you must be ready for a slip. Can you pass it round anything?" "Yes," I said; and as the rope was eased I got both legs back into their position again, thus hindering my power of hauling dreadfully, but guarding against the rope being dragged down again rapidly by passing it over my right leg and under the left. "Are you sure you can hold on if I slip?" said Denham now. "Yes, if you come slowly. The rope's strong enough, and I'll get it up a yard at a time, so that's all the distance you can pull." "Ah!" he cried; "then I can use both hands, and climb with more confidence. Now then, I'm coming up." "Ready!" I shouted; and I toiled on with the perspiration moistening my hands as I steadily hauled with my right and left alternately, gaining a foot with one and making it secure over and under my legs with the other. All the while I could hear him painfully climbing as if gaining confidence with every yard he came nearer the surface. "Now rest," he said, and I could hear him breathing hard.