without faltering, though our way was towards it.

Then we turned under an arch into a second court, and the din was
less plain as we did so. There was the well of the monastery, and
without a word the sacristan hove the heavy chest from his
shoulders into its black depths, and the splash and bubble of its
falling came up to us.

"That is safe," said the prior; "now for ourselves."

He hooked the oaken bucket to its rope and let it down to its full
length in the well, and at once the sacristan swung himself on it,
slid down, and was gone. Then the rope swayed to one side, and
stayed there, shaking gently in a minute or so.

The prior drew it up, and maybe fifteen feet from the top, there
was a bundle tied--a rope ladder on which were iron hooks. These he
fastened to the edge of the oaken platform that covered the well
mouth, and let the other end fall down the well. Then he bade me go
down to the sacristan.

That was easy to me, and I went, yet I feared for him who stood
listening to the splintering of the nearer gate, for it would soon
fall surely. I saw the sacristan's face glimmer white before me
from a hollow in the well shaft, as I set my foot on the last rung
of the ladder, and I held out my hand to him. Then in a moment I
was beside him in a little chamber built in the walling of the
well; and after me came the prior.

He jerked the ladder from side to side till the hooks above lost