“Take care not to slip, Hanky,” advised Rod, “or we’ll have the job of drying a chum out before we can go on our way.”
“And say, that well water’s awful cold in the bargain,” remarked Josh, carelessly; “keep a tight hold on the rope. We’ll look after this end, and when you say the word pull you out.”
Accordingly the determined one started to lower himself into the haunted well, showing a most commendable spirit, Rod thought. It was really too bad to allow the joking Josh to play this trick on so gallant a fellow; but possibly there would be no harm done in the end, and at least it served to break the terrible monotony of seeing sad sights on the road through the devastated country.
Presently the shaking of the rope ceased, and the voice of the explorer came up from the depths.
“This is certainly a queer deal I’m getting,” he said, complainingly.
“What’s the matter now?” asked Josh, tantalizingly.
“Why, I tell you there’s nothing down here,” replied Hanky Panky. “My eyes have got used to the dark, and I can see perfectly well. All around me is the stone of the well, the water is just under my feet, but high or low I can’t see a single sign of anybody.”
“Didn’t I tell you so?” asked Josh, laughing harshly; “the old well must be a haunted one, I reckon. If that was really a groan we heard it was given by a ghost, or a goblin, and not a living being.”
“Hey! that’s enough, Josh! Get me up out of here quick, I tell you!” called Hanky Panky, shaking the rope vigorously; “you promised you would, remember!”
Josh was chuckling at a great rate; nevertheless when Rod signalled to him he condescended to lend a hand, and between the two of them they speedily had Hanky Panky up safely, none the worse for his experiment, but looking deeply puzzled.