to do then?" said the man, with a groan. "Let me down, I
tell you."

"Nay; it would be too bad, I won't do that."

"Then go down yourself."

"How? Can you hold me, and haul me up? That's madder still. He's
gone, my lad, he's gone; and we can't do nothing to help him."

"Run, run for help. I'll stay here and hold the rope. He may be
insensible and catch hold of it yet."

"Ay, he may," said the man, meaningly; "but folk don't do that sort o'
thing, my lad. Nay; it's o' no use to struggle over it. He's a dead
and goner, and you and me's got to face it."

"Face it!" groaned Joe, letting his head go down on the top of the wall.
"Face it! How can I ever face Mrs Pendarve again?"

"Ah! and how can I face the Colonel, his father. I can't do it, my lad,
Ydoll Churchtown's been a happy enough home for me, and I've allus made
a living in it, but it's all over now. I must be off at once."

"To get help?" cried Joe, raising his ghastly face from where it rested
upon the weathered stone, and looking more ghastly now from the blood
which had started from a slight cut on his brow.

"Nay; I've done all I could do here for young Gwyn--all as a man can do.
I've got to take care o' myself now, and be off somewheres, for the
Colonel'll put it all on to me."

"Go! Run away!" cried Joe. "Oh, you wouldn't be such a coward! Here,
quick! try again.--Gwyn, old chap! The rope--the rope. Oh, do try and
catch hold," he shouted down the pit.

But there was no reply; and wild now with frantic horror, the boy seized
the rope and began to climb over the wall. "Ah! none o' that!" roared
Hardock, grasping his arms; and now there was a desperate struggle which
could only have the one result--the mastery of the boy. For at last
Hardock lifted him from the ground and threw him on his back amongst the
heath, and held him down.

"It's no good to fight, young 'un," he said breathlessly. "You're
strong, but my muscles is hardest. I don't say nought again' you,
though yer did hit me right in the mouth with your fist. I like it, for
it shows your pluck, and that you'd do anything to try and save your
mate. Lie still. It's of no use, yer know. I could hold down a couple
of yer. There, steady. Can't yer see I should be letting yer go to
your death, too, my lad, and have to hear what the Major said as well as
the Colonel. Not as I should, for I should be off; and then it would
mean prison, and they'd say I murdered you both,