I extended my hand up towards the chain, and found that I could nearly reach it.

"Shall I give you a lift ?" cried Walter, and I accepted the offer.

It was a hard piece of work for him, but he was a professed athlete, and he would have lifted me if it had cracked his spine.

I reached up and unhooked the chain.

It was then long enough for me to stand on the ground and hold the end of it.
Now I began to pull.