mply; and his words sounded so strangely impressive that Gwyn uttered
a sound like a gasp.

"What is there to be afraid of?" he cried passionately. "We ought to be
savagely angry, and ready to feel that we could half kill that cowardly
hound for forsaking us like this. I know what you feel, Joe; that we
must hurry back as fast as we can to the foot of the shaft, and shout to
them to haul us out."

"But do you really think Tom Dinass has sneaked away?"

"I'm sure he has, out of spite because he was forced to come; and when
we got back he would be one of the first to grin and sneer at us. I
want to run back as fast as I can, but you'll stand by me, won't you?"

"Of course I will."

"I know that, old chap. Well, what did we come for?"

"You know; to try and find them."

"Yes, and I'm getting better now. I couldn't help feeling scared.
We're alone here, but we won't give up. We've got to find them somehow,
and we will. I sha'n't turn back, for mother's sake. How could I go
and tell her I came down to try and find them, and was afraid to go on
in the dark!"

"Do you mean it?" said Joe, whose face was of a ghastly white.

"Yes; and you won't turn like you did on the ladder?"

"No."

"There was something to be afraid of then, but there isn't now."

"No," said Joe, with a gasp.

"We've got a light and can avoid any pit-holes; the water has all been
pumped out, and there are only the pools we passed here and there.
Nothing can hurt us here, for the roof won't fall; it's too strong, cut
all through the rock as it is."

"Yes, but if we go on and lose ourselves as they have done--"

"Well, we must find our way again; and if we can't we must wait till
somebody comes."

"Here! Alone?"

"We sha'n't be alone, because we're together."

"But do you think anyone would come?"

"Do you think all those men would stop hanging about the mouth, knowing
we're lost, and not come and help us? I don't."

"No. Englishmen wouldn't do that," said Joe, slowly. "Let's go on.
I'm not so scared now, but it is very horrible and lonely. Suppose the
light went out."

"Well, we'd strike a match, and start another candle."

"Ah, you've got some matches then?"

"Yes; a whole box. No, I haven't; not one."

"Ydoll!" cried Joe in a despairing voice.

"But we've got plenty of candles, and we'll take care to keep them
alight. Now then, if we stand still we shall lose heart again. Ready?"

"Yes."

"Come on, then;" a