"But tell me," I said; "how was it? I don't remember."

"Well, it were like this, you see," said Ike. "I were holding the rope

tightly and watching of you, and I see you slip on the noose, and

tightened it, and then all at once I shouted to the others, `Hook on,' I

says, `it's got him.' "I was on the watch for it, you see, and ready, and hauled at once.

Thank goodness, I am strong in the arm if I ain't in the head. So I

hauled, and they hauled, and so had you both up a few feet directly, one

at each end of the rope, and you two couldn't be civil to each other

even then, but must get quarrelling."

"Quarrelling! Nonsense, Ike! I was insensible, and so was he."

"I don't care; you was quarrelling and got yourselves tangled up

together, and the rope twissen round and round under one of them bits o'

wood as goes acrost."

"Yes, I know," I said excitedly, for the thought made me shudder.

"Well, there you was; and the more you was pulled the tighter you was,

just below the bottom of the ladder."

"And what did you do, Ike?"

"Well, I was going down, and was about handing the ropes to Old

Brownsmith's brother, when young Shock hops in on to the ladder like a

wild monkey a'most. Down he goes chattering like anything, and it was

no use to shout to him to have a rope. Afore we knowed it a'most, he

was down and lying flat on his stum. `Lower a bit,' he shouts, and we

lowered, and he untwisted you two and guided you both clear, and stopped

till you were both out, when he came out whistling as if nothing was the

matter."

"A brave fellow!" I cried warmly.

"That's what I said," cried Ike; "but the plumber said it was because he

didn't know there was any danger."

"Well, Ike, what then?"

"Oh, there's no more to tell, only that Sir Francis come and a doctor

was fetched, and the guv'nor said it would be a warning to them two

boys; and young shaver who went down's up at home getting all right, and

you've got all right, and that's all."

That was not all, for I went down the garden--and found Shock, to thank

him for what he had done, but he only turned his back on me and then

walked away; while, feeling faint, I turned to go up to the cottage and

lie down till the sick sensation had gone off.

I had gone about a dozen yards, when, thump! a worm-eaten baking pear,

half-grown, hit me on the back, and I did not need telling that it was

thrown by Shock.




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