"Help me lift it," said Jack.
They removed the heavy cover. The well opened black before them. Pepito peered over the edge; he saw nothing; there was neither rope nor ladder.
"How can we get down?" said Jack.
Looking around, he saw what appeared to be the end of a ladder projecting from beneath a bush. He dragged it out; a snake dropped from it and vanished in the grass; it was a ladder some sixteen feet long.
"It will not reach the bottom of the well," said Jack. His eye caught the bar of wood.
"Bring me that, Pepito."
He laid it across the well-mouth; on its mossy side there was a dull splash of red. The bar stretched across the opening. Lifting it again, Jack gave it to Pepito, and, taking the ladder, lowered this into the well till only the topmost rungs were above the brickwork.
"Put the wood through," he said.
Thus the ladder hung dangling on its support, fifteen feet into the well. Pepito looked at his master enquiringly.
"Yes, you are to climb down. Stay!" he added, as the boy prepared to step down on to the swinging ladder.