Brownsmith's Boy Part 61

I seemed to be standing there some time, but Mr Solomon afterwards told me it was not a moment, before I looked up, and seeing him returning with the plumber, ran towards them swiftly, shouting for help.

The two men started running directly, and as we reached the well together there was Philip lying upon the ground beside the path, face downwards, and with his fingers thrust into his ears.

"Now, then," shouted Mr Solomon to the plumber, as Ike came running up straight across beds, bushes, everything. "Now, then, you said the well was safe; go down and fetch him up."

The plumber went upon one knee, seized the top of the ladder, and got up again shaking his head.

"I can't afford it," he said. "I've a wife and bairns at home."

"I--I daren't go down," groaned Mr Solomon. "Man, man, what shall we do?"

"It scares me," growled Ike hoa.r.s.ely; "but I've got no wife and no bairns; and if Master Grant here says, 'Go,' I'll go, though," he added slowly, "it's going down into one's grave."

"Can you see him, Grant?" cried Mr Solomon.

"Yes; down on the wood," I said in a hoa.r.s.e whisper; "he's lying across a beam with his head down. What shall we do?"

As I asked this piteously I raised my head, to see Philip close by me kneeling on the gravel, his eyes half closed, his face of a yellowish grey, his hands clenched, and his teeth chattering.

No one spoke, and as I looked from one man to the other every face was pale and stony-looking, for the men felt that to go down into that carbonic acid gas was to give up life.

I felt horribly frightened, and as if I were sinking somewhere. I glanced round, and there was the beautiful garden all flowers and fruit, with the glorious suns.h.i.+ne over all. Below me that terrible pit with the falling whispering water, and a chill seeming to rise out of its depths.

As I looked I saw Shock coming towards us at a run, as if he divined that something was the matter, and the sight of him made me think of Mr Brownsmith's garden and my happy life there, and I gave a low sob as my eyes filled with tears.

I tell you I felt horribly frightened, and all this that has taken so long to describe seemed to pa.s.s in a flash--almost as I started from gazing down the well to my feet.

"Tie the rope round me," I said huskily. "You can pull me up if I fall."

"Well done, young un!" shouted the plumber, catching up the coil of rope. "I like pluck, I do."

"You stand aside," cried Ike, s.n.a.t.c.hing the rope from him and giving him a rough thrust with his elbow. "I'll do this here."

He ran the rope rapidly through his hands, and secured one end about my chest.

Then he made a running noose at the other end.

"Look here," he cried. "You take this here noose in your hand, my lad; there's plenty of rope to reach down double. When you gets to him put it over his arm or his leg, or anywhere, and pull it tight. I'll take care o' you, my boy, and have you up again like a shot."

"Shake hands, Ike," I said, all of a tremble.

"Ay, I will, boy."

"Go, and G.o.d help you!" groaned Mr Solomon; and the next instant, with the noose in my hand and just feeling the rope drag on my chest, I stepped on to the ladder, clasped it as Courtenay had done, and let myself slide down.

As I went I looked up, and it seemed dark, for there was a ring of heads round the top; but below as I looked it was still darker.

Down, down, with a curious catching of the breath, and a strange sensation of this not being real seizing me. Then I seemed to wake up and find myself where the water was dripping, and the well whispering, and still I slid down till I was on the slimy platform where the foot of the ladder rested, but young Dalton was not there, but some ten feet down, on the next crosspiece of timber.

"Lower me down," I cried, and hanging by the rope I felt myself lowered more and more, and that I was slowly spinning round; but as I swung to and fro I caught at something I could dimly see, and found it was the great slippery pipe that went down into the water, and guided myself by that.

Only about ten feet; but the distance in that curious state of dread that made me feel as if my breath was painful and difficult, seemed ten times as great. The rope seemed to be compressing the bones of my chest tighter and tighter, and twice over I felt that I was in amongst the foul air that I believed would kill me before I reached the crosspiece on which the lad hung.

The next minute I was seated astride the slippery piece of oak with the water about half a dozen feet below me, and I saw that the least touch would send Courtenay off.

I remembered my lesson though, and, forgetting my dread in the excitement, I slipped the rope over the hanging arm nearest to me, right up to the shoulder, and was in the act of drawing it tight, when, as I bent down, a curious choking sensation seized me, and all was blank.

Ike told me what took place afterwards, for I knew nothing more till I opened my eyes, and found that I was lying down, and several people whose faces looked misty and confused were about me.

I felt sick, and my head throbbed violently. There was a weight over me too, and a curious feeling of confusion, in the midst of which a cool hand was laid upon my fore-head, and I heard some one say:

"He's coming round fast."

I lay quite still for some time, and at last I exclaimed:

"What's the matter--is anyone hurt?"

"Lie still, my lad," said a strange voice.

"I know," I cried excitedly. "Did you get him out?"

"Yes, yes, he's all right, and so are you, Grant, my lad," said Mr Solomon; and just then the room seemed to be darkened, and I heard Ike's voice:

"Is he coming to?"

"Yes. He's all right."

Then I felt that I was wrong about some one else, and that it was that accident with the cart tipping up at Old Brownsmith's, and it was I who was hurt.

That all pa.s.sed away like a cloud, and my full senses seemed to come back.

"Did you get Master Courtenay out?" I said.

"Yes, my lad, he is quite safe," said a quick sharp voice, which its owner seemed to me trying to make gentle, and turning my head I saw Sir Francis.

I tried to get up, but turned giddy.

"Lie still, my lad," he said kindly. "Don't disturb him, Brownsmith.

Good-bye, my lad! I'll see you again."

He shook hands with me and went to the door.

"Well," he said sharply, "are you going to shake hands with the brave fellow who saved your brother's life?"

The next moment I saw young Philip at my side, and he took my hand in his, which felt cold and damp like the tail of a cod-fish.

"If he seems to change in any way," said the voice I had heard before, "send for me directly; but I think he will be all right in an hour or two. I'm going up to the house."

"Who's that?" I said sharply.