"Puts me in mind of a scared dog, he do, reg'lar." "But tell me," I said; "how was it?
I don't remember." "Well, it were like this, you see," said Ike.

"I were holding the rope tightly and watching of you, and I see you slip on the noose, and tightened it, and then all at once I shouted to the others, `Hook on,' I says, `it's got him.' "I was on the watch for it, you see, and ready, and hauled at once.
Thank goodness, I am strong in the arm if I ain't in the head.

So I hauled, and they hauled, and so had you both up a few feet directly, one at each end of the rope, and you two couldn't be civil to each other even then, but must get quarrelling." "Quarrelling! Nonsense, Ike! I was insensible, and so was he." "I don't care; you was quarrelling and got yourselves tangled up together, and the rope twissen round and round under one of them bits o' wood as goes acrost." "Yes, I know," I said excitedly, for the thought made me shudder.
"Well, there you was; and the more you was pulled the tighter you was, just below the bottom of the ladder." "And what did you do, Ike ?" "Well, I was going down, and was about handing the ropes to Old Brownsmith's brother, when young Shock hops in on to the ladder like a wild monkey a'most.

Down he goes chattering like anything, and it was no use to shout to him to have a rope.

Afore we knowed it a'most, he was down and lying flat on his stum.