84 History of Gutta-Percha Willie.

 

the ladder again, rove it also through the first block,
which he had left hanging to the staple. All pre-
parations thus completed, he stood by the well, and
hauled away at the rope. It came slipping through
the pulleys, and up rose the stone from the well as
if by magic. As soon as it came clear of the edge,
he drew it towards him, lowered it to the ground,
took off its rope collar, and rolled it out of the
doorway. Then he got into the well again, tied
the collar about another stone, drew down the
pulley, thrust its hook through the collar, got out
of the well, and hauled up the second stone.

In this way he had soon got out so many that
he was standing far above his ankles in the water,
which was so cold that he was glad to get out to
pull up every stone. By this time it was perfectly
explained how the water made a noise, for he saw
it escape by an opening in the side of the well.

He came at last to a huge stone, round which it
was with difficulty he managed to fasten the rope.
He had to pull away smaller stones from beneath
it, and pass the rope through under it. Having
lifted it a little way with the powerful help of his
tackle, to try if all was right before he got out to
haul in earnest, he saw that his knot was slipping,
and lowered the stone again so as to set it on one
end, leaning against the side of the well—when he
discovered that his rope collar had got so frayed,
that one of the strands was cut through ; it would