There was a rushing sound directly after, and the smuggler’s voice next time he spoke came from a lower stage.
Aleck followed again with more confidence that he would not plunge into some horrible well-like hole full of water with he knew not what horrible, eel-like creatures waiting to attack him. This time the slide down felt comparatively easy, while at another angle of the zigzag, as he followed his unseen guide, Aleck actually began to think that such a way of progression must be bad for the clothes.
“You’ll have to ease yourself down this next one,” said Eben, as he was starting for the next descent; “it’s a bit steeper. Let your hands run along the wall over your head, just touching it, and that’ll be enough. Don’t shove hard, or you’ll be taking the skin off.”
“I’ll mind,” said Aleck, rather hoarsely.
“What’s the matter?” said the man.
“I’ve hurt my head a little against the roof.”
“Humph!” grunted the smuggler. “Forgot to tell you about that bit. It’s the only place where you can touch the top, and you run agen it. Hurt yerself much?”
“No.”
“Then come on.”
The rather swift descent was accomplished more easily than Aleck anticipated, and he slid down into a pair of hands.