“Letusexchangeplaces，“Icriedatlength。
“Whatiswrong？“inquiredGubininresponse“Downhereitiscold——Ican’tstanditanylonger。“
“Geeup！“exclaimedGubintotheoldhorsewhichsuppliedtheleveragepowerforthebucket；whereuponIseatedmyselfupontheedgeofthereceptacleandwentaloft，whereeverythingwaslookingsobrightandwarmastobearanewandunwontedlypleasingappearance。
SonowitwasGubin’sturntostandatthebottomofthewell。
Andsoon，inadditiontotheodourofdecay，andasubduedsoundofsplashing，andtherumblingsandbumpingsoftheironbucketagainstitschain，therebegantocomeupfromthedamp，blackcavityaperfectstreamofcurses。