“What do you mean, man?” whispered Mr Frewen.
“What we’ve all got to face, doctor. I couldn’t swarm up that rope again.”
“Dale, could we get the rope round his waist, and hold him?” whispered Mr Frewen.
“Here! hist! quick!” came through the opening where Mr Preddle was listening all the time.
“Silence!” cried Mr Frewen, sternly. “What do you say, Hampton?”
“I says as if you takes the line from under my feet for half a moment down I goes, for all the feeling’s gone out of my arms. I’m done.”
“No, no,” I whispered in desperation. “Hold on, Bob; we must—we will save you.”
“Ay, lad,” he said dolefully, “I’ll hold on as long as I can; but if you two are going to save me, you’ll have to be very smart about it, I’m afraid.”
“Mr Frewen! Dale!” came from the opening.
“Silence, I say!” cried the doctor, fiercely.