We had got all in place but the rope; and then suddenly Mr. Sant drew himself up, scratching his head in an unclerical manner.
“Whereabouts is it to be passed round?” he said.
“O!” answered Uncle Jenico: “as high up on the shaft as one can reach.”
“My good man,” cried the rector sarcastically, “do you really imagine we are going to haul that thing over by tugging at its base, or near it?”
“It is tottering already. It is laid bare to its lowest course. These boys examined and proved it!” answered Uncle Jenico.
Nevertheless, I could see he was taken by surprise and dismayed.
“That may be,” said Mr. Sant, “but——”
He paused, shrugged his shoulders, and laughed out comically.
“O, it will never do!” he said. “We must give this insanity a better chance. By hook or by crook, we must get the thing fixed up near the top.”
I started forward.