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He ran the rope rapidly through his hands, and secured one end aboutnoose at the other end

"Look here," he cried "You take this here noose in your hand, my lad;

there's plenty of rope to reach down double When you gets to hi, or anywhere, and pull it tight I'll take

care o' you, ain like a shot"

"Shake hands, Ike," I said, all of a tremble

"Ay, I will, boy"

"Go, and God help you!" groaned Mr Solomon; and the next instant, with

the noose inon my chest, I

stepped on to the ladder, clasped it as Courtenay had done, and let

myself slide down

As I went I looked up, and it see of heads

round the top; but below as I looked it was still darker

Down, doith a curious catching of the breath, and a strange

sensation of this not being real seizing me Then I see, and the hispering,

and still I slid down till I was on the sli Dalton was not there, but some ten feet