At sight of this human cinder, hanging by one hand between two deaths, every sentiment but humanity vanished from the ruggedest bosom, and the skilled workmen set themselves to save their unpopular comrade with admirable quickness and judgment: two new wheel-bands, that had just come into the works, were caught up in a moment, and four workmen ran with them and got below the suspended figure: they then turned back to back, and, getting the bands over their shoulders, pulled hard against each other.

This was necessary to straighten the bands: they weighed half a hundred weight each.

Others stood at the center of the bands, and directed Little where to drop, and stood ready to catch him should he bound off them.
But now matters took an unexpected turn.

Little, to all appearance, was blind and deaf.

He hung there, moaning, and glaring, and his one sinewy arm supported his muscular but light frame almost incredibly.