I had the rope off again in a few seconds, held it ready, and shouted down to Denham, who had been perfectly still.
“Now then,” I cried; “can you hear what I say?”
“Yes,” came in a strange, hollow tone.
“Look out! I’m going to lower you a rope with a loop all ready tied. Slip it over your head and under your arms.”
“Ah!” he said softly; and, as I rapidly lowered down the rope, though the tone seemed only like an expiration of the breath, it yet sounded firmer than that “Yes” of a few moments before.
“I can’t see, old fellow,” I cried, when I had paid out what I thought must be enough; “but this ought to be near you now. Can you see it?”
“Yes; but it is a dozen feet too high,” he replied. “It won’t reach me.”
“Yes, it will,” I roared, for there was a despairing tone in those last words. “Plenty more. Look out!”
I lowered away, and then shouted again:
“That enough?”