w; they used to eat
'em, and they're some the old chaps as did the mining brought down for
dinner."

"Ready?" said Hardock.

"Ay, ay," cried the men, who had made what children call a dandy chair
with their hands, and supported the Colonel, whose arms were placed
about their necks.

"Then as he says, and I wish I could hear him say it now, `Forward!'"

The men started, and Hardock turned to Vores.

"Seems like acting Tom Dinassy, my lad," he said bitterly. "I don't
feel as if I could go."

"Do you want to get up a row?" said Vores, sourly. "Be off and look
after the guv'nor; don't stop putting us chaps out of heart and making
us think you jealous of me doing your work."

Hardock held out his hand to his fellow-workman.

"Thank ye, my lad," he said. "Go on, then, and take care. I've kept
just enough candle to last us to the shaft foot; don't go farther than
you can find your way out."

"We're going to find those two boys," said Vores through his set teeth.
"By-and-by, if we don't come back, you send a fresh shift, and let 'em
bring us some prog and some blankets; but I'm hoping you'll find them up
at grass when you get there. Now off you go, and so do we."

They parted without another word, and the next minute the dim light of
the lanthorns borne by the men were dying away in two directions--the
party bearing the Colonel progressing slowly till he recovered himself
somewhat and ordered them to stop.

"Nay, sir, there's no need," said Hardock; "we keep on taking you in
three shifts, and can go on for long enough."

"Thank you, my lads, thank you," said the Colonel; "but I am better now.
Anxiety and fatigue were too much for me. I'm stronger, and can walk."

"Nay, sir, you can better ride."

"If I am overdone again I will ask you to carry me," said the Colonel.
"I am not a wounded man, my lads; only at the heart," he added bitterly
to himself. "How am I to face his mother if he is not found?"

They set him down, and he walked on slowly for a few hundred yards; but
after that one of the men saw him display a disposition to rest, and in
his rough way offered his arm.

"May help you a bit, sir, like a walking stick," said the man, with a
smile.

"Thank you, my lad. God bless you for your kindness," said the Colonel
as he took the man's arm; and they went on again for some time till far
ahead there was the faint gleam of a light reflected from the wet
granite rock, and the Colonel uttered a cry--