Leaning over the edge of the well, he called down cheerily:
"How you making it?"
Wallie's voice sounded like the voice of an angel to the prisoner. Relief and joy beyond description filled him. Hoarse as a bullfrog, he quavered:
"In Mercy's name let me out of here, Macpherson!"
"You're all right where you are, Rufus," Wallie answered. "When you're down there you are out of mischief."
"I'm hungry—I'm starvin'——"
"I don't know when I've eaten such a ham, tender, a delicious flavour, and just enough fat on it—I thought of you all through dinner, Rufus."
"We've struck water—a big flow—I can hear it—it'll break through any minute!"
"You don't understand!" Rufus cried, desperately. "I'm liable to be drowned before you can h'ist me out of here. I can heard it roar—like a cloudburst!"