"I have said what I have to say."
"You answer my question by asking another. It won't help you any, Brady. Believe me, you better do what I tell you if you expect to get out of this scrap alive."
"Would you kill me after what I have done for you, Joe Ding?"
"I might; it is hard to say," replied the Chinaman with a grin. "However, if it is going to help matters along, I'll answer your question. Follow me."
He clutched Harry's arm and led him forward a few feet.
They had now come underneath an open shaft.
Here there was a rope attached to a ring.
Joe Ding tried to untie it, but did not seem to succeed.
Losing his patience, he pulled out his knife and cut the rope in spite of the protest of one of the other Chinks.
Immediately the rope ran up over a pulley above, apparently, and that with great rapidity.