The wire was extremely thin, but the weight of that portion of it which had already been unwound was so great that four men were at the handles of the windlass.
Roland came to meet Margaret as she entered.
"The lead has gone down six miles," he said, in a low voice, "and we have not touched the bottom yet." "Impossible!" she cried.

"Roland, it cannot be! The wire must be coiling itself up somewhere.

It is incredible! The lead cannot have gone down so far!" "Leads have gone down as far as that before this," said he.

"Soundings of more than six miles have been obtained at sea." She went with him and stood near the windlass.

For an hour she remained by his side, and still the reel turned steadily and the wire descended into the hole.
"Shall you surely know when it gets to the bottom ?" said she.
"Yes," he answered.