24
　　A journey under the sea
　　Bill couldn’t reach the first iron staples¹, so Philip had to fetch a rope. It wastied tightly to an iron post by the well, and then Bill slipped down it, andplaced his feet on the first staples.
　　‘I’m all right,’ he said. ‘You come along as soon as you can, Philip – letme get down a few steps first – and for goodness’ sake don’t slip.’
　　The girls did not go – and, indeed, neither of them liked the thought ofgoing down the steep, cold well-shaft³ with only insecure staples for a foot?and hand-hold. They watched the two disappearing down into the dark, andshivered.
　　‘It’s beastly to be left behind, but I honestly think it’s beastlier to godown there,’ said Dinah. ‘Come on – we can’t see or hear Bill and Philipnow – we’d better go back to the kitchen and do a few jobs. Isn’t Joe late!’
　　They went back, wondering how Bill and Philip were getting on downthe well. They were climbing down slowly but surely; the staples seemed tobe as firmly in the wall as when they were first driven in.
　　It was tiring work, and would have been utterly⁴ impossible to tackle if ithad not been for unexpected resting-places let into the well-wall every nowand again. The first one puzzled Bill, till he guessed what it was. It was anopening in the well-wall, going back a few feet, big enough to crouch⁵ inand rest. At first Bill had half thought the first one to be the entrance to thepassage and he was surprised to come to it so soon. But he soon realisedwhat it was, and very thankfully he rested there a few minutes. Then Philiphad a rest there, whilst Bill went slowly downwards⁶, his feet always feelingfor the next staple².
　　It seemed ages going down the well-shaft, and, in fact it took the two ofthem nearly an hour. They used each resting-place, but in spite of that theybecame very tired. Then suddenly Bill’s torch, which he had stuck into hisbelt alight, gleamed on to dark water. They were at the bottom.

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