Word: roped
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Dates: during 1880-1889
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...pulling us up was a good deal more work than letting us down. I objected to this. There was hardly room in the bucket for little Elsie alone. If we went up together we should have to sit opposite one another on the edge of the bucket with the rope between, like the two sides of a pair of scales; and I feared that Elsie might get cramped and frightened before we reached the top. Besides, I noticed that about six inches above the bucket the rope had been worn half through by the spades. The "pard," however, insisted that...
...silent, however; and I was just heaving a sigh of relief as we rose to the top of the opening, when, quick as a serpent's tongue, a spade-handle, with a long knife lashed to the end, darted out of the shadow, and made a thrust at the rope where it was already worn almost through...
...thrust was enough; the few remaining strands snapped. Feeling the bucket sink under me, I seized the rope with one hand and Elsie with the other. And just as the bucket struck the bottom of the shaft with a great crash that re-echoed through the mine, I made Elsie clasp her arms around my neck. Then I tried to go up the rope hand over hand, until I should be able to wind it around me, and thus free my arms from the terrible strain; but I found that with Elsie hanging around my neck, I could...
...were not five yards above the drift when the men at the top, hearing the crash of the falling bucket, stopped turning and called down to know what was the matter. "Pull us up quick!" I shouted. "The bucket's gone, and we're hanging by the rope...
...began to go up again, and very fast, I doubt not, although we seemed hardly to move at all, as I watched the spot of sky above, and bent every particle of will-power on trying to keep aching arms and numb fingers from relaxing their hold on the rope. I hope that I shall never again suffer the agony of those few moments. They seemed hours. Once, I thought I should have to give in; but I looked down at little Elsie, who was twined around me, with her quivering hands clasped about my neck; and the look...