Hugh kept encouraging his charge from time to time; and then speaking words also to the laboring, anxious boy above, directing him just how to proceed.
Finally they reached the top.

Hugh still ordered "Just" Smith to hold the pole as he had been doing.

Then he managed to push Claude up so that he could crawl over the edge, which the other did in a speedy manner, bordering on the ludicrous.
Then, to the surprise, as well as delight of Hugh, what did Claude do but turn and stretch out a helping hand, as though his first thought was to assist his rescuer to top the rise; indeed, Hugh's one arm was so utterly gone that he could hardly count on it for a single thing.
Hugh would not be apt to forget this action on the part of the "sissy"; it proved what he had all along more than half suspected, that Claude really did have the making of a genuine boy in him, given half a chance for it to show itself, and the seed to germinate.

And Hugh determined that he would make it his particular business to see that there came a change in Claude's dreary life.

His mother could hardly refuse anything asked by the one to whom she owed the life of her son.
Soon the trio lay upon the ground, breathing hard, and trying to talk at the same time.