“You would tie the other end round you,” said Aleck, “ready for me to haul and help you out in turn.”
“Oh! What’s the good of a fellow being grumpy?” cried the middy. “Why, we’re enjoying ourselves. This is one big adventurous game. I’m getting to be glad those women took me prisoner. I don’t believe there ever were two who dropped in for such an adventure as this. But, I say, I don’t think we’ll try the diving trick to-day. We ought to be rested and fresh.”
“Yes,” replied Aleck, “and we ought to have another good try up the zigzag first.”
“Yes, it might be as well. I say, just ring for the people to clear away. I want to have a nap now. What time is it?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Why?”
“Because I want to know what to call it. You see, I don’t know whether I’m going to have a siesta or a genuine snooze.”
“Have both,” said Aleck, laughing, “and I’ll do the same.”
“And it doesn’t matter, does it, for night and day seem to be about the same? Put out that candle, and mind where the tinder-box is.”
“Here, you see where it lies,” was the reply, and then there was silence, both lying thinking deeply before once more dropping fast asleep, many hours having been taken up by the hard toil and suffering they had gone through.