and pulleys sat up, and the rope ready.
30 "Should we drop in a flare?" asked one of the men.
31 "Sure," snapped Gray Boar, "and burn her to death if it falls on
her! Use your brain, men!"
32 The man looked hurt and nodded. Gray Boar lay on the edge of the
hole and looked down. His light did not reach far enough to see
anything. “I'm going down" he insisted. "It's been five-and-a-half
hours now. If she's still alive, it will be a wonder!"
33 Slowly but surely his men lowered him into the pit until he gave a
sudden cry, and they stopped. "Are you alright, sir?" they screamed,
"What's the matter?"
34 "The damn pit is full of vipers!" answered Gray Boar. "Black-headed
pit vipers! They're everywhere! I'm scared to death of vipers!"
35 "With good reason!" one of the men cried. "That particular species
is deadly! We'll haul you up!"
36 "No!" insisted Gray Boar, "Send me on down. This thing's GOT to have
a bottom in it, and I'm going to find that girl!"
37 So slowly, cautiously, his men lowered away. When they were just
about out of rope, Gray Boar cried out, "I see her! I see her! She's on
a ledge just below. I'll have her in a minute!"
38 To his men, though, it seemed like forever before he signaled them
to pull up. Slowly, surely, inch by inch until finally he emerged, the
girl tied to his chest, they pulled them out and all collapsed
exhausted, on the ground.
39 The Village Healer examined her, then looked up with a smile. "Not a
scratch on her, except a bump on her head!" he announced , "And, not a
bite! Probably a little concussion, or nothing that won't be right in a
short time. She should come around in a few hours. Lords bless you,
gentlemen- and, especially YOU, sir!"