"How horrid!" said Joe, looking at his companion with his face drawn in
accord with his words. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Forgot all about it afterwards; never remembered it once till you began
to talk like this."

"But how strange!" said Joe.

"Oh, I don't see why it should be strange. The old folks found a rich
vein, and when they did they followed it up wherever it went; and
that's, of course, why it's such a rambling old place. But that's what
old Dinass is after. He thinks that if he can find a new vein, he'll
get a reward."

"What a game if he finds one running out through the rocks!"

"I don't see how it's going to be a game."

"Don't you? Why, to find that he has discovered what already belongs to
us; for of course the foreshore's ours, and even if it wasn't he
couldn't go digging down there for ore."

"Why?"

"Because, for one thing, the waves wouldn't let him; and for another, we
shouldn't allow him to dig a hole down into our mine. There, come on,
and let's take them some fish; and I want to get on my dry clothes.
What are you thinking about?"

"Eh?"

"I said what are you thinking about?"

"Tom Dinass."

"Not a very pleasant subject either. I get to like him less and less,
and it's my opinion that if he gets half a chance he'll be doing
something."

"Hallo!"

"Oh, here you are, Master Gwyn."

"Yes; what's the matter, Sam?"

"You'll know quite soon enough, sir. Come on up to the mine. Harry
Vores has just gone back there. It was him brought me the news."

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

GRIP'S BAD LUCK.

"Why don't you speak?" cried Gwyn, angrily. "Has there been an
accident? Surely father hasn't gone down!"

"Oh, the Colonel's all right, sir," said Hardock, genially. "The
gov'nor hasn't gone and lost himself."

"But there has been an accident, Sam," cried Joe.

"Nor the Major aren't gone down neither, sir," said the man. "Here, let
me carry that fish basket. Didn't remember me with a couple o' mullet,
did you?"

"Yes, two of those are for you, Sam; but do speak out? What is wrong?"

"Something as you won't like, sir. Your dog Grip's gone down the mine."

"What for? Thinks we're there? Well, that's nothing; he'll soon find
his way up. Why did they let him go down?"

"Couldn't help it, sir," said the man, slowly.

"What--he would go? I did miss him, Joe, when I went home. I remember
now, we didn't see him after we went to the mine. He must have missed
us,