the men were there standing about the square iron-bound box
attached by a wire rope to a wheel overhead, and known as the skep,
which, with another, would be the conveyances of the ore that was to be
found, from deep down in the mine to the surface, or, as the miners
termed it, to grass; and until the man-engine was finished this was the
ordinary way up and down.

There was Sam Hardock, muffled up in flannel garments, and wearing a
leather cap like a helmet, with a brim, in front of which was his
feather represented by a thick tallow candle. He was armed with a stout
pick in his belt, and the Colonel and Major both carried large
geological hammers.

Tom Dinass was there, too, in charge with the engineer of the skep, to
ensure a safe descent.

Then there were lanthorns, and Hardock, in addition, bore by a strap
over his shoulder what looked like a large cartouche box, but its
contents were to re-load the lanthorns, being thick tallow candles.

"Got plenty of matches, Hardock?" said Gwyn, eagerly.

"Oh yes, sir, two tin boxes full."

"We have each a supply of wax matches, too, my boy," said the Colonel.
"All ready, I think," he continued, turning to the Major, who nodded,
and then said to him in a low tone of voice, overheard by the boys in
addition to him for whom it was addressed,--

"If anybody had told me six months ago that I should do this, I should
have called him mad."

"Never mind, old fellow," said the Colonel, laughingly; "better than
vegetating as we were, and doing nothing. It sets my old blood dancing
in my veins again to have something like an adventure. Well," he said
aloud, "we may as well make a start. By the way, have you any lunch to
take down?"

"Oh, yes," said the Major, tapping a sandwich-box in his coat pocket;
"too old a campaigner to forget my rations."

"Right," said the Colonel, tapping his own breast. "Well, boys, if we
get lost and don't come up again by some time next week, you will have
to organise a search-party, and come down and find us."

"Better let us come with you, father, to take care of you both."

The Colonel laughed, and shook his head.

"Now, Major," he cried, "forward!"

The Major stepped into the great wooden bucket, the Colonel followed,
and then Sam Hardock took his place beside them.

"All ready!" cried the Colonel. "Now, Hardock, give the word."

The mining captain obeyed, there was a sharp, clicking noise, as the
engineer touched the brake, and