The building was open to the roof, and the first thing to be seen in it
was that tread-wheel of which Elzevir had spoken. It was a great open
wheel of wood, ten or twelve feet across, and very like a mill-wheel,
only the space between the rims was boarded flat, but had treads nailed
on it to give foothold to a donkey. The patient beast was lying loose
stabled on some straw in a corner of the room, and, as soon as we came
in, stood up and stretched himself, knowing that the day's work was to
begin. 'He was here long before my time,' the turnkey said, 'and knows
the place so well that he goes into the wheel and sets to work by
himself.' At the side of the wheel was the well-mouth, a dark, round
opening with a low parapet round it, rising two feet from the floor.
We were so near our goal. Yet, were we near it at all? How did we know
Mohune had meant to tell the place of hiding for the diamond in those
words. They might have meant a dozen things beside. And if it was of the
diamond they spoke, then how did we know the well was this one? there
were a hundred wells beside. These thoughts came to me, making hope less
sure; and perhaps it was the steamy overcast morning and the rain, or a
scant breakfast, that beat my spirit down--for I have known men's mood
change much with weather and with food; but sure it was that now we stood
so near to put it to the touch, I liked our business less and less.
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