Away went the hook, and after it the dimly-seen coils of rope, followed by a sharp clang again of iron upon stone.
“Now he’s hauling,” whispered Ned, and all held their breath, for the change from daylight into darkness was rapidly going on, and Griggs’s figure standing erect upon the grey rock began to look as if some thin, filmy, smoke-tinted veil was being drawn over it.
Tchingle! came—clearly heard!
“Hurrah!” cried Chris. “He has caught the chain this time. He’ll want us to help haul.”
The boy strained forward as if ready to start at the first call; but he did not, for no call came, but Griggs himself began to move sharply after a tug at the rope, and then leaping down from the stone upon which he had stood, he came running towards them swiftly, dodging in and out amongst the stones standing in his way.
“Off with you,” he shouted; “the varmint are coming along the rope!”
All turned at the order, retreating steadily to allow Griggs to overtake them, which he did directly.
“I don’t think we need go far,” he said. “I don’t suppose they’ll come further than the end of the rope. I could see dozens of them striking at the barrel and the hook at that last throw. We shall have to let them settle down before we try to get the water, but I’ve hooked the chain fast.”
“Then we can do the rest after dark,” said the doctor.
“Well, not quite, sir. We shall have to bring a light to find the end of the rope and see that there are none of the reptiles hanging on to it.”