When the rope reappeared he seized it, with Geo's assistance, made himself fast, and gave the signal for going up.
Geo saw the soles of Hayes's big boots rise over his own head with eyes that dilated with something like fear, and a heart that thumped audibly against his ribs, as for a few moments his own fate hung in the balance. Hayes's broad shoulders, even with the greatest care, might refuse to pass through the aperture without dislodging some of the fallen timber; such a little would send it down on his head. It would be a horrible death, for he would see it coming—coming—coming before it fell, and Geo didn't want to die. The possible nearness of death flashed into his mind, and he scarcely dared look when Hayes reached the hole, and a few broken straws, loosened by his passage through it, floated down on to his upturned face. The ominous words, "You'll cover us up and ha' done with us," occurred to him again with terrible persistence. Minute after minute passed, and the rope did not reappear. Impossible but horrible thought, were they so much taken up with Chapman and Hayes that they had forgotten him?
Geo had stepped on to one of the turned-over pails on which the other men had been standing, and the water had reached up to his knees when he had given Hayes his parting shove. He now noticed with surprise that it had suddenly reached considerably over them. He glanced apprehensively to the sides of the well. It was perfectly evident that the water had risen. Higher, higher it crept, till it nearly reached his waist, and then the awful truth flashed on him. The springs had begun to work!
CHAPTER XIX
GEO AGAIN SURPRISES HIMSELF AND HIS FRIENDS.
It was perhaps just as well that Geo was an inexperienced well-sinker, and that he did not know the horrible danger he was in, or with what fearful rapidity a long-dry spring sometimes rises when once it has begun to move; but he shuddered with apprehension as the cold water crept up to his arm-pits, and as it touched his shoulders flesh and blood could stand no more, and he lifted up his voice and shouted with a shout that shook the frail supports above him till he trembled once more for their endurance.
It is said that a drowning man sees all his life pass in review before his mental vision, and a wave of remorse for lost opportunities and wasted days swept over him as he stood on the brink, as it were, of eternity. And all the time those ominous words of Hayes were ringing—ringing—ringing in his ears—those ears that soon would be covered with the creeping icy flood. At last! at last! After an eternity of agony the aperture was once more was once more darkened; something was coming down—quick, quicker, the rope was running out from the windlass. Thank God, it had a bucket on the end of it. Splash it went in the water, and filling, sank immediately. Geo shouted as he grasped the rope with his strong hands, twisted his legs round it below, and as they drew him up slid his half-numbed feet into the bucket.
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I don't think that any one who was present will ever forget the moments when Geo's white face appeared above the brickwork, and his dripping garments told the tale of his terrible predicament; for Geo for the moment was past speech, and there went up from the crowd such a roar of admiration and delight as Willowton had never heard before. And there was such a rush of the foremost bystanders to shake their hero by the hand that the policemen had their work cut out for them with a vengeance, for the enthusiasm had passed all bounds.
The foreman had said, "Don't make a fuss when they come up," when the other men had been drawn to the surface; for he had seen similar accidents before, and he knew that the men's nerves would not be in a state to stand much excitement. The crowd had behaved in an exemplary manner, and except for the summarily-squashed cheering of a few thoughtless boys, they had been allowed to pass quietly to the conveyances that awaited them, assisted by the parish doctor and a couple more medical men from Ipswich. But it was not to be expected or desired that they would treat Geo in the same way. Martin and Cadger managed the rope, and as he reached the surface Mr. Barlow and the vicar were there to greet him.