I did so at once, and then asked:
“Can you see the bottom, Joe?”
“Yes,” he replied. “The crevice is much wider down there, and the floor seems to be smooth and dry. I can’t see any sign of water anywhere, but I can hear it plainly enough. Good-bye for the present; I’m going down now.”
With that he disappeared under the bulge in the wall, while I, placing my hand upon the rope, presently felt the strain slacken, whereupon I called out:
“All right, Joe?”
“All right,” came the answer.
“How’s the air down there?”
“Seems to be perfectly fresh.”
“Can you see the water?”