“Whurroo!” he cried, exultantly. “I tell yez I kin jest do it an’ don’t ye fergit it. Luk out fer ye’silf.”
Balancing himself upon the beam at the mouth of the passage Barney made a throw with the coil of rope.
It passed over the upper beam and came down so that the Celt could grasp the other end of it.
With a cry of triumph he made the two ends fast.
“Shure, Misther Frank!” cried the brave Irishman, “whin I reach the mouth av the shaft I’ll let the rope down an’ draw yez up.”
Frank’s heart leaped with a wild thrill of hope.
It was not impossible that Barney might succeed in his enterprise.
It was a frightful distance to overcome, but the Celt had full confidence and any amount of pluck.
Up he went, hand over hand upon the rope.
He stood upon the beam above a moment later.