hap--they see with their noses; don't you, old Grip?"

"_Whuf_!" cried the dog; and he made a frantic effort to lick his
master's face.

"It's wonderful!" cried Joe, excitedly.

"Yes, makes a fellow wish he had a nose like a dog. Why, Jolly, we
could have found our way out, then."

"Don't see it," said Joe, who was in a peculiarly excited state, which
made him ready to laugh or cry at the slightest provocation.

"Don't see it! Of course you don't. Couldn't we have smelt our way out
by our own track, same as he did? But bother all that. Why, Jolly, if
I could only feel sure that the dads were safe out, I shouldn't care a
bit."

"No; I shouldn't either. Oh, I say, isn't it a relief?"

"Yes, and so I feel all right. They're out: I'm sure of it."

"How do you know?"

"By Grip being here."

"That doesn't prove it."

"Yes it does. I know! Father said, `I'll send Grip down; he'll find
them.'"

"Well, it does sound likely; but I say, Ydoll, isn't it queer?"

"What, being here?"

"No; while I was so miserable and feeling as I did, I was only faint;
now I feel so hungry I could eat anything."

"Same here," said Gwyn; "but it's all right; they're out; father sent
Grip--didn't he, Grip?"

The dog barked loudly and leaped up at him.

"There, hear him? He understands," cried Gwyn; but Joe shook his head.

"I don't know," he said. "The dog found us right enough, but that
doesn't prove that he'll find his way back."

"He'd better," said Gwyn with mock earnestness; "if he doesn't we'll eat
him. Do you hear, sir?"

The dog barked again.

"It's all right," said Gwyn, merrily. "Now then, pack up, and let's go
home--do you hear, Grip?"

The dog threw up his head and barked loudly.

"Ready, Joe?"

"Ready--of course."

"Come on, then. Now, Grip, old fellow, lead the way. Go home!"

The dog barked again, and trotted in the opposite direction to which
they had expected, making for the partly driven gallery where the roof
ran up, showing how the lode of tin had ascended; and when he reached
the blank end beginning to bark loudly.

"Come back, stupid!" cried Gwyn; "we found that out ourselves. That's
the end of the mine. All right. Now, lead the way home."

But the dog barked again loudly; and it was not until Gwyn followed to
the end and seized his collar that he gave up. "Now then, off with you,
but don't go too fast. Forward! Quick march!"

The lad had straddled across the dog, holdin