adily with its burden.

"I wouldn't stand in your boots for a week's wage, my lad," said Vores,
banteringly, as he looked to where Dinass stood, still resting his leg
on the bench and holding it.

"You mind your own business," he growled.

"Ay, to be sure, mate; but when a brother workman's in trouble it is
one's business to help him. You're in trouble now. Like a man to run
and get a doctor to see to that hole the dog made in your trousers?"

There was a roar of laughter.

"Don't grin, mates," said Vores; "they're nearly a new pair, and there's
a hole made in the leg. He thinks it's in his skin."

There was another roar of laughter which made Dinass look viciously
round, his eyes lighting sharply on the dog, which had gone close up to
the opening where the skep would rise, and kept on whining anxiously.

"Smells his master," said Vores; and the dog then uttered a sharp bark
as the top of the skep appeared with the link and iron bands attached to
the wire rope.

Then, to the surprise of all, Colonel Pendarve, the Major, and Sam
Hardock stepped wearily out, their trousers wet, their mackintoshes and
flannels discoloured, and their faces wet with perspiration.

"Here you are, then, gentlemen," said Vores; "we thought you were lost.
The young gents are waiting to come up, I s'pose."

"Young gents?--waiting to come up?" cried the Colonel, who had just
looked round with a disappointed air at not seeing his son waiting.
"What do you mean?"

"We all got tired o' waiting, and scared at your being so long, sir; and
the young gents went down with Tom Dinass to seek for you."

"What? I don't understand you," cried the Colonel, excitedly. "Dinass
is here."

"Yes, sir, he come up," said Vores; "but--the young gents are down
still."

"My son--my son--down that place!" cried the Colonel, while the Major
uttered a groan.

"Yes, sir, and we were just going down to search for 'em when you come
up."

"Horrible!" groaned the Major.

"The place is a dreadful maze," cried the Colonel; "we were lost, and
have had terrible work to find our way up. You're quite exhausted,
Jollivet. Stay here. Now, my lads; volunteers: who'll come down?"

"All on us, sir," said Vores, sturdily; "they've got to be found."

"Thank you," cried the Colonel, excitedly; and the look of exhaustion
died out of his face. "But you, Dinass--they say you went down with
them. Why are you here?"

"'Cause they give me the slip, sir. For a l