I felt my centre of gravity shifting its place, and giddiness mounting into my brain like drunkenness.

There is nothing more treacherous than this attraction down deep abysses.

I was just about to drop down, when a hand laid hold of me.

It was that of Hans.

I suppose I had not taken as many lessons on gulf exploration as I ought to have done in the Frelsers Kirk at Copenhagen.
But, however short was my examination of this well, I had taken some account of its conformation.