Jack had been discreet enough to say nothing.
Harry had provided himself with a rope about 200 feet long.

It was not particularly thick, but very strong--sufficiently so to sustain his weight.

His friends were to let him down into the gulf, and his pulling the cord was to be the signal to withdraw him.
The opening into this shaft or well was twelve feet wide.

A beam was thrown across like a bridge, so that the cord passing over it should hang down the center of the opening, and save Harry from striking against the sides in his descent.
He was ready.
"Are you still determined to explore this abyss ?" whispered Jack Ryan.
"Yes, I am, Jack." The cord was fastened round Harry's thighs and under his arms, to keep him from rocking.

Thus supported, he was free to use both his hands.