"
Now Meyer, seeing that nothing was to be gained by violence, changed his
tone, and asked if he himself would help them.
"I am old, my strength is small," he replied; "yet I will put my hand to
the chain and do my best. But, if I were you, I would not descend that
pit."
"Still, I will descend it, and to-morrow," said Meyer.
XII
THE BEGINNING OF THE SEARCH
Accordingly, on the next day the great experiment was made. The
chain and ancient winding gear had been tested and proved to be amply
sufficient to the strain. Therefore, nothing remained save for Meyer
to place himself in the wooden seat with an oil-lamp, and in case this
should be extinguished, matches and candles, of both of which they had a
large supply.
He did so boldly enough, and swung out over the mouth of the pit, while
the three of them clutched the handles of the winch. Then they began to
lower, and slowly his white face disappeared into the black depth. At
every few turns his descent was stopped that he might examine the walls
of the well, and when he was about fifty feet down he called to them to
hold on, which they did, listening while he struck at the rock with a
hammer, for here it sounded very hollow.
At length he shouted to them to lower away again, and they obeyed, until
nearly all the chain was out, and they knew he must be near the water.
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