I reached the bottom muddy and bruised about the elbows, but safe.

I lit the candle, made an examination of the rock, selected some specimens and shouted to Boggs to hoist away.

No answer.

Presently a head appeared in the circle of daylight away aloft, and a voice came down: "Are you all set ?" "All set--hoist away." "Are you comfortable ?" "Perfectly." "Could you wait a little ?" "Oh certainly--no particular hurry." "Well--good by." "Why?
Where are you going ?" "After the school report!" And he did.

I staid down there an hour, and surprised the workmen when they hauled up and found a man on the rope instead of a bucket of rock.
I walked home, too--five miles--up hill.