"Back, Jack, for your life!" gasped Bill Haden; but at that moment Jack's feet struck something, which he knew was a body.
"Down at my feet; help!" he cried.
He stooped and tried to raise the body. Then the last gleam of his light went out—his lungs seemed to cease acting, and he saw no more.
When he came to himself again he was being carried on Bill Haden's shoulder.
"All right, dad," he said. "I am coming round now; put me down."
"That's a good job, Jack. I thought thou'd'st scarce come round again."
"Have you got either of the others?"
"We've got Brook; you'd your arm round him so tight that Ned and I lifted you together. He's on ahead; the masons are carrying him, and Ned's showing the way. Canst walk now?"
"Yes, I'm better now. How did you manage to breathe, dad?"