The star diminished in size. Now it was invisible, then only discernible by the faint glow it cast on the walls. Anon it flashed forth once more. It seemed to Jack as though an hour had passed before the light became stationary, and a voice, confused by the echo of the sides, came up to him, 'I am at the bottom,――lower the kegs.' 'Stand back,' shouted Jack in reply, 'lest the falling stones crush you!' 'I will go to the mouth,' answered Winefred. 'But I leave the light where it is. Lower at once.' 'No,' called Jack; 'not so, lest the light be extinguished. Put the light on one side out of risk.' Winefred guessed rather than heard what he said, and she placed the lantern in the cave she had observed on her ascent. By this means it was sheltered from stones that might be dislodged and fall. But where it was, it cast a halo upon the white wall opposite. As soon as Jack conceived that Winefred was beyond reach, he bade the men pass a rope through the loops attached to the kegs, one after the other, and let them down into the abyss. When the slackening of the cord assured him that a cask was lodged, then he cast down one end and drew the rope up to lower another in a similar manner. He would not venture to do this with more than one man at a time to stand on the edge and let down the butts. The operation was consequently somewhat slow, nevertheless it was in time brought to a conclusion, and then he told the men that they must descend at the extremity of the rift, reach the shore, and make the best of their way home. By means of the ferryboat all could cross. On the morrow, at about the same hour, they would return and move the goods and dispose of them as seemed most advisable, after he had consulted with his father. The men could descend only singly, lest one following another should send down stones on him who preceded him. Then Jack leaped into the chasm and vanished. The men looked at each other. Said one to his mate, 'I think I shall slip over the downs.' 'Ay,' said a second. 'I had rather risk the chance of running into the mouths of the sharks than go down yonder.' 'And I,' said a third, 'shall turn into the straw in Bindon barn, and lie there till daylight. I am not disposed to go underground without the assistance of the undertaker.' 'We have our orders,' said one of the young Nutalls. 'That's right, my boy,' spoke old David. 'Follow me,' and he went over the side. Jack Rattenbury descended step by step in the darkness. It was a difficult and dangerous downward climb, to be executed only with extreme caution, but he achieved it. He had, not, however, reached the bottom before he was greeted by Winefred, who had taken the lantern and held it so as to assist him. 'Look,' she said. 'Here at the side is a little cavern. I have already rolled in two of the kegs. When the men are down we will stow the lot in there.' Slowly, and in single file, the men arrived, with a few exceptions.