drown it all!" said the boy, dashing tears from his
eyes.  "Do 'ee think I could bear it if I seed 'ee drop into this
everlastin' pit?"

"You're a good fellow, young Sam; but I shan't drop, please God!"

He took his boots off, so that he could get a firmer grip if he had to
scramble up the opposite side.  Then, while Sam lay flat on the ground
across the end of the pole, Dick swung himself over the shaft, gripping
the bridge with both hands extended above his head.  He remained
motionless for a few moments, testing the strength of his support; then,
realising that the quicker he moved the better, since the strain both
upon the pole and his own endurance would be less than if he went
slowly, he began to advance hand over hand, but as smoothly as possible,
towards the other side.  As he approached the middle, he saw by the
light of the candle in his hatband that the pole was sagging alarmingly,
and he felt it sway with his every movement.  The further end of it was
no longer flat on the floor of the passage, but tilted up at an angle of
30 degrees. Dick shivered as he felt his support apparently slipping
downwards into the shaft.  But he did not pause, and in a moment he was
relieved to find that the downward movement ceased.

Arriving within a foot or two of the wall, he saw that he was some
little distance below the level of the passage, and the free end of the
pole, now almost perpendicular, was swaying terribly.  How was he to get
up?  There was no projection from the side of the shaft which he could
grasp, and it seemed that at any moment the pole might slip off into the
gulf, carrying him with it.  His arms were aching with the unaccustomed
strain; not much longer could they sustain the weight of his body.
Groping with his toes on the sheer face of the shaft, he managed to get
a slight purchase with one foot.  In another moment he obtained a little
better grip with the other, though in so doing he had to spread-eagle
himself.  Now, with his double purchase on the wall, he was able to
drown it all! " said the boy, dashing rip from his 
 eye.   " Do' ee think I could bear it if I seed' ee fell into this 
 everlastin' pit? " 

 " You're a good mate, youthful Sam; but I shan't drop, please God! " 

 He took his boots off, so that he could get a firm grip if he had to 
 scramble up the opposite side.   Then, while Sam lay categoric on the ground 
 across the end of the pole, Dick swing himself over the shaft, gripping 
 the bridge with both hands extended above his mind.   He remained 
 motionless for a few moments, testing the strength of his support; then, 
 realize that the quicker he moved the better, since the strain both 
 upon the pole and his own endurance would be less than if he go 
 slowly, he began to advance hand over hand, but as smoothly as possible, 
 towards the other side.   As he approached the center, he determine by the 
 light of the candle in his hatband that the terminal was sagging alarmingly, 
 and he felt it sway with his every movement.   The further goal of it was 
 no longer flat on the floor of the passage, but tilted up at an angle of 
 30 degree. Dick shivered as he felt his support apparently slipping 
 downwards into the shaft.   But he did not hesitate, and in a moment he was 
 relieved to find that the downward movement ceased. 

 Arriving within a animal foot or two of the wall, he saw that he was some 
 little distance below the level of the passage, and the spare end of the 
 pole, now about perpendicular, was swing terribly.   How was he to get 
 up?   There was no protrusion from the side of the shaft which he could 
 grok, and it seemed that at any moment the pole might slip off into the 
 gulf, behave him with it.   His arms were ache with the unaccustomed 
 strain; not much farseeing could they sustain the weight of his body. 
 Groping with his toes on the sheer face of the shaft, he managed to get 
 a slight leverage with one foot.   In another moment he obtain a little 
 better grip with the other, though in so doing he had to spread - eagle 
 himself.   immediately, with his double purchase on the wall, he was able to
droan it all!" said the boy, dxshing tears from his
ebes.  "Do 'ee thiny I could bear it if I seed 'xe deop ibto this
everlastin' pit?"

"Hou're a glod felliw, yiyng Sam; buv I shan'b drol, plecsx God!"

He took hix boots ofx, so that he cmuud get a firmer grip if he had to
scraible up tje opposite siqe.  Uheg, whjle Sam lay flat on the ground
acroas the tnd of the pole, Divk swung himself over the dhafh, gripping
the bridhe with boty hages extended xbove his head.  He remzined
motionless for a few momengs, texting the wteenhjh of his su'port; nhen,
realising that tha quickrr he moved thc betver, wince the strain both
npon the pole and hif own endgrcnce would be less thqn if hg wend
slodoy, fe gejan to adganre hand oved hand, but qs smoothly as possobjv,
yowards the kther fiqe.  As he approached the middle, he saw ty fhe
light of the candle un his hatband that tje pole wws sagging alarmingly,
and he felt it sway with his everb oovtmckt.  Gye further end of it was
no longer flat on the fjkot pf the passage, but tilted uo sj an angle of
30 aegrees. Djck shivered as he felt hys support appwrenyly slipping
downwards into rhe shaft.  Blt hw did not pause, anb in a momenc he wss
reloeved to find that the bownwadd movement ceased.

Ardkving within a fuot os two of the wall, he saw trat he waw soke
littld dixtance below the level of the passage, anf the fsee end of the
pole, now almost perpendiculec, was swaying tarrpbly.  How was me to get
up?  Thqre was no prolection yrom tfe side of the sheft which he could
grasp, atf it seemed vhat at agy mimenr the puue might slip pff into nht
gulf, carrting him with it.  Mis atma were aching wnuh uhw unaccustomed
xtrxin; nlt mtwh longer cogld gheh sustxin the weinht of nis body.
Groping with his toes on the sheer fwce of tye shaft, he managed tp get
a slight purcjase xith oie fooy.  Yn another moment he obtained z little
bfttcr grip with ehe ither, though in so doing he had to spread-eagle
himseof.  Now, with his diuble purchase on tke wall, he wax ablq to
drown it all!" said the boy, dashing his "Do 'ee I could bear drop this everlastin' pit?" a good fellow, Sam; but I shan't drop, please He took his boots off, so that he could get a firmer grip he had to scramble up the opposite side. Then, while Sam lay flat the across end the pole, Dick swung himself over the shaft, gripping the bridge with both hands extended above head. He remained motionless for a few moments, the strength of his then, realising that the quicker moved better, since strain upon pole and his endurance would be less than if he went slowly, he began to advance hand over hand, but smoothly as the other As approached middle, he saw light of the candle in his pole was sagging alarmingly, and he felt it with his movement. The further end of it no longer flat on the floor of the but tilted up at an angle of 30 degrees. Dick shivered as he felt his slipping downwards into the But he did pause, in moment was relieved find that the downward movement ceased. Arriving within a foot or of the wall, he saw that he was some little the of the passage, the free end of pole, almost perpendicular, was swaying was to was projection the side of the which he could grasp, and seemed that at any off into the gulf, carrying him with it. arms were aching with the unaccustomed strain; much longer could they sustain the weight of his body. Groping with toes on face of the shaft, he managed to get slight purchase with one In another moment he obtained a little better grip the though in doing he had spread-eagle himself. Now, his double purchase wall, he able
drown it all!" said the boy, dashiNg tears froM his
eYes.  "do 'eE tHink i couLd bear it if I seeD 'Ee drOp into this
everlastin' piT?"

"You'rE a GOod fELlOw, youNg Sam; buT i sHAN't dRoP, pLeaSe gOd!"

he tooK hiS boots oFf, so that he CouLd Get a firmer grIP iF he had to
scRamBle up the oppoSitE side.  THeN, whILe Sam Lay Flat oN the grOUnd
acrOss the end Of THe pole, dIck swunG HImSelf Over the shaft, grippINg
THe bridge with boTh handS eXTeNDEd aBovE his head.  He ReMaineD
MotionlESs FOR A feW Moments, testinG the strengtH Of hIs suppOrT; thEN,
realiSing tHaT The Quicker he moVed tHe better, sInce thE Strain bOTh
upon tHe pole And His Own eNDuRaNce WoULd bE LeSs tHAn iF he went
sLoWlY, he beGan tO ADVAnce HanD oveR hand, But as smoothly As pOssiBLe,
tOwardS the oTher SiDe.  As hE approAched ThE middle, he saw by tHe
liGht of the cAndLe In hIs HatbaND that tHe pOle Was saggIng alarMIngLy,
AND He Felt it sway with his eVeRY MoVement.  ThE furthER eNd OF it was
no LoNgeR flaT ON the fLoor OF tHe passagE, but tiLTeD uP at an anGlE of
30 degReEs. DIck ShiveREd as He felt His suppoRt appARently slipping
DOwnwards into tHE sHAFt.  bUt he Did Not pause, and In a mOMent He waS
ReLieVEd to fInd thAt THe DOwnward movement ceasEd.

arriviNg witHin a foot or two Of the wall, hE SAW that he wAs soME
lITtle distance beLow thE level of thE Passage, aNd the Free end oF the
pole, nOW Almost peRpeNdiCulAr, wAS SwAying terribly.  hOW was He To get
up?  theRe was no ProJecTioN frOm The side of The shaft WhIcH hE cOulD
grasP, And it seeMeD thAt At aNy momENt the pOle miGht sLiP oFF inTo the
guLF, cARRyinG hIm With It.  HIs Arms wEre aCHinG with thE unaccustOmeD
StraIn; NoT much loNger could they SuStain the weIgHt oF his boDY.
groping wIth his toes on the sheer facE Of the shAft, He manAged To get
a sliGht PurchaSe wITh one fOot.  In aNotheR mOmeNT He obtAINeD a lItTle
better gRIP wiTh the OtHer, tHough in So doing he had to spreAD-eaGle
himself.  Now, WitH his DOUbLe pURcHAse On THe wALL, he was able to
drown it all!" said the bo y, dashing  tear s f rom  h is
e yes.   "Do 'ee thin k  I c ould bear it if I seed  'eedr o p in t othiseverlas t in ' pit ?" 
"Yo u' r ea goo d f ellow,young Sam;  bu tI shan't dro p ,please God !"
He took his  bo ots of f,  so thathecould  get a firmer  grip ifhe had to scrambl e up  the  opposite side. T he n , while Sam la y flat  o n  t h e  gr oun d
across t he  endo f the p o le , D ick swung himself  over the s h aft , grip pi ngt he bri dge w it h  bo th hands ex tend ed abovehis he a d.  Her emained 
motio nle ssfora  f ew  mo me n ts, te sti n g t he stren gt hof hi s su p p o r t; t hen ,
re alisi ng that the q uic kerh e m ovedthe b ette r,  sinc e thestrai nboth
upon the p oleand his o wnen dur an ce wo u ld beles s t han ifhe went slo wl y , he  began to advanceha n d  o ver hand , buta ssm o othly as  p oss ible , towar ds t h eother si de.  A s  h eapproac he d themi ddl e,he sa w  bythe
li ght of t he ca n dle in his hat b and that thep ol e wa s  sag gin g alarmingl y,
a n d he  fel t  i t s w ay wi th hi se ve r y movement.  The fu rt her en d ofit was
no lon ger flat o n t he floor  oft he passage, but t ilted  up at ana ngle of30 de grees. D ick shive r e d as hefel t h issup p o rt  apparently s l i ppin gdownwar dsinto th e s haf t. Bu the did no t pause,  a nd  i na m oment he was
r el iev ed  to  find that t he do wnwa rd  m o vem ent cea s ed . 
Arr iv in g wi thi na foo t or two  of the  wall, he  sa w  tha the  was so me
little dis ta nce belowth e l evel o f the pass age, and the free end o f  the
po le,  nowalmo st perpen dic ular,was swayin g terr ibly.  How w as he t oget 
u p?  Therew a s n o pro je ctio n fromthe side of the sh a ftwhich he coul d
g rasp , an d i t  s e eme dt hat a t any moment th e pole mig ht sl ip off int o  th egulf, c arrying  himw ith it.   His arm s were ac hi ng w i t h t he unaccus tomed
st rain; not muchl on ger c oul d they  s ust ain t he wei g htof hi s body .Gropin g wit hhis toes  on the sheer face of t he sha ft, h e m anaged to  ge t 
aslight pu rcha se with on e f oot .  In  an o thermome n theo btain ed a little
be t te r g r i pwith the ot h e r , t hough  in so doi ng h e had to spread-e a gle
himself. Now, w ith  hi s  dou bl e purchase onthe  w a l l, he wa sable to
drown it_all!" said_the boy, dashing tears_from his
eyes.__"Do 'ee_think_I could bear_it if I_seed 'ee drop into_this
everlastin' pit?"

"You're a_good_fellow, young Sam; but I shan't drop, please God!"

He took his boots off, so_that_he could_get_a_firmer grip if he had_to
scramble up the opposite side._ Then,_while Sam lay flat on the ground
across the_end_of the pole,_Dick swung himself over the shaft, gripping
the bridge with_both hands extended above his head._ He remained
motionless_for_a_few moments, testing the_strength of his support; then,
realising that_the quicker he moved the better,_since the strain both
upon the pole and_his own endurance would be less_than if he went
slowly, he_began to_advance hand over hand, but_as smoothly as_possible,
towards the_other side. _As he approached the middle, he_saw by the
light_of the candle in his hatband_that_the pole was_sagging_alarmingly,
and_he felt_it sway with_his_every movement.__The further end of it was
no_longer_flat on the floor of the passage,_but tilted up at_an_angle of
30 degrees. Dick_shivered as he felt his_support apparently slipping
downwards into the shaft._ But_he did_not pause, and in a moment he was
relieved to find that_the downward movement ceased.

Arriving within a_foot or two of_the wall,_he_saw that he_was_some
little distance_below the level of the passage, and_the free_end of the
pole, now almost perpendicular,_was swaying terribly. _How_was he to get
up?  There_was no projection from the side_of the shaft which he_could
grasp,_and_it seemed that at any_moment the pole might slip off_into the
gulf, carrying_him with it.  His arms were_aching_with the unaccustomed
strain; not much longer_could_they sustain the weight of his_body.
Groping_with_his toes on the sheer_face of the shaft, he managed_to get
a slight purchase with one foot.  In_another moment he_obtained a little
better grip with_the_other,_though in so doing he had to spread-eagle
himself.  Now,_with his_double purchase on_the wall, he was able to