And Guillermo, with trembling fingers, counted out the coins he had already retrieved, and, in the throes of fear, crossing himself repeatedly and urged on by the handthrusts of his companions, stepped upon the bucket, sat down on it with legs wrapped about it, and was lowered away out of the light of day.
"Stop!" he screamed up the shaft. "Stop! Stop! The water! I am upon it!"
Those on the sweep held it with their weight. "I should receive ten pesos extra above my share," he called up.
"You shall receive baptism," was called down to him, and, variously: "You will have your fill of water this day "; "We will let go "; "We will cut the rope "; "There will be one less with whom to share."
"The water is not nice," he replied, his voice rising like a ghost's out of the dark depth. "There a
