tight as a vise and there is no chance of her slipping back into the water
or anything of that sort."

"Well, I hope so, but somehow I begin to feel nervous, and wish that I had
not let him go down."

"Young Smith is all right, Jack," said Percival reassuringly. "He is not
afraid of anything, and really I don't believe there is anything to be
afraid of. There was not when we went down."

"No, but we are a couple of big boys, and he is only a midget. If anything
happened to him I should never forgive--listen, and see if you can hear
him coming."

"No, I cannot, but he has had hardly time to get there yet. Give him a
chance. He will want to see all there is, boy-like. Let him have a good
long look at the wonders of the place. He has never seen anything like it
before, and never will again."

Jack was very anxious in spite of Dick's cheering words, and the minutes
seemed like hours till at last, holding the rope in his hand he felt a tug
at, and then heard:

"Hello! Are you up there?"

"Yes!" shouted Jack. "Are you all right?"

"Sure I am. Wait till I get the rope under my arms. I've got a bag of the
stuff, as I said I would, but I don't think----"