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           Hewasintelligentandactive;understandingquickly,heperformedwell;andCyrusHardingbecamemoreandmoreattachedtotheboy.Herberthadalivelyandreverentlovefortheengineer.Pencroftsawtheclosesympathywhichexistedbetweenthetwo,buthewasnotintheleastjealous.NebwasNeb:hewaswhathewouldbealways,courage,zeal,devotion,self-denialpersonified.HehadthesamefaithinhismasterthatPencrofthad,butheshoweditlessvehemently.Whenthesailorwasenthusiastic,Nebalwayslookedasifhewouldsay,"Nothingcouldbemorenatural."Pencroftandheweregreatfriends.

           AstoGideonSpilett,hetookpartinthecommonwork,andwasnotlessskilfulinitthanhiscompanions,whichalwaysratherastonishedthesailor.A"journalist,"clever,notonlyinunderstanding,butinperformingeverything.

           Theladderwasfinallyfixedonthe28thofMay.Therewerenotlessthanahundredroundsinthisperpendicularheightofeightyfeet.Hardinghadbeenable,fortunately,todivideitintwoparts,profitingbyanoverhangingofthecliffwhichmadeaprojectionfortyfeetabovetheground.Thisprojection,carefullyleveledbythepickaxe,madeasortofplatform,towhichtheyfixedthefirstladder,ofwhichtheoscillationwasthusdiminishedone-half,andaropepermittedittoberaisedtothelevelofGraniteHouse.Astothesecondladder,itwassecuredbothatitslowerpart,whichrestedontheprojection,andatitsupperend,whichwasfastenedtothedoor.Inshorttheascenthadbeenmademucheasier.