his words on his companions. "You, Grip, if
you don't be quiet, I'll rub your head against the rough wall."

"Nay, this roof'll never fall in, sir," said Hardock, thoughtfully.
"More it's pushed the tighter it grows."

"Well, let's get some of the crystals," said Gwyn; "though it does seem
a pity to break the walls of such a lovely place. But we must have
some. Be quiet, Grip!"

"Let's have some lunch first," said Joe.

"Nay, gen'lemen," said Hardock, whose face looked clay-coloured in the
feeble light. "I don't think we'll stop for no crystals, nor no lunch,
to-day, for, I don't want to scare you, but I feel sure that there's
something very wrong."

"Wrong! What can be wrong?" cried Gwyn, quickly.

"That's more than I can say, sir," replied the man; "but we've just
heard something as we didn't ought to hear; and if you've any doubt
about it, look at that dog."

"You're not alarmed at the barking of a dog?" cried Gwyn,
contemptuously.

"No, no, not a bit; but dogs have a way of knowing things that beats us.
He's barking at something he knows is wrong, and it's that which makes
me feel scared though I don't know what it is."

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

FOR LIFE.

"What nonsense!" cried Gwyn, laughing. "Don't you be scared by trifles,
Joe. There's nothing wrong, is there, Grip?"

The dog threw up his head, gazed pleadingly at his master, and then made
for the farther opening.

"No, no, not that way," cried Joe.

"Yes, sir, we'll try that way please; it works round by the wet drive,
and the big pillared hall, as you called it."

"But look here, Sam, are you serious?" said Joe; "or are you making this
fuss to frighten us?"

"You never knowed me try to do such a thing as that, sir," said the man,
sternly. "P'raps I'm wrong, and I hope I am; but all the same I should
be glad for us to get to the foot of the shaft again."

"Why not go to where the men are at work?" suggested Gwyn; "they'd
know."

"We shall take them in our way, sir; and we won't lose any time please."

"I should like to light up the place once more before we go."

"No, no, sir. You can do that when you come again."

"Very well," said Gwyn, who did not feel in the least alarmed, but who
could see the great drops standing on the mining captain's face. "Lead
on, then. Where's Grip?"

The dog was gone.

"Here! Hi! Grip! Grip!" cried Gwyn.

There was a faint bark from a distance, and Gwyn called again, but there
was no