“Well, what’s to be done?” cried Josh.
Will turned cold. He had expected to get a few words of comfort from his companion, and to hear that he was about to propose some plan for his rescue, and all he seemed ready to do was to ask for advice.
“How came you to let the rope go?” cried Will, forcing himself into an angry fit so as to keep from feeling alarmed at his position.
“Dunno! It kind o’ went all of itself like,” Josh shouted back. “What’s to be done? Can’t jump down into the water and swim out by the adit, can you?”
“No,” cried Will angrily. “Here, go back and get a rope.”
“Where?” shouted back Josh. “I say, I knowed you’d be getting into some mess or another going down there.”
Will was equable enough in temper, but a remark like this from the man he had trusted with his life made him grind his teeth in a fit of anger, and wish he were beside Josh for a moment, to give him a bit of his mind.
“Go up to any of the fishermen, never mind where, and borrow a line.”
“All right!”
“And, Josh.”