said Gwyn, with a groan. "Hah! good dog then. Here,
here, here! Grip, Grip, Grip!"

For there had been a faint barking in the distance, but the noise
ceased.

"Can we go round any way?" said Gwyn.

"No, sir; we must face it," said Hardock; "and as quick as we can, for
it gets lower and lower, and the water sets this way fast, so it must be
rising. Ready, sir?"

"Yes."

"Then come on."

Hardock stepped down into the rapid stream, which was ankle-deep, the
others followed, and they splashed rapidly along, to hear the barking
again directly; and soon after Grip, who must have been swimming, came
bounding and splashing along, barking joyously to meet them again, and
barking more loudly as he found that his master was making for the way
from which he had come.

"Can't help it, old fellow. When it gets too bad for you, I must carry
you," muttered Gwyn, as they hurried along; their progress gradually
becoming more painful, for the water soon became knee-deep, and the
stream harder to stem.

But they toiled on till it was up to their waists, and so swift that it
began to threaten to sweep them away; so, after a few minutes'
progression in this way, with the water growing yet deeper, Hardock
stopped at a corner round which the water came with a rush.

"It's downhill here, gen'lemen, all the way to the shaft, and even if we
could face it, the water must be five-foot deep in another ten minutes,
and round the next turn it'll be six, and beyond that the passage must
be full."

"Then we must swim to the foot of the shaft," said Gwyn, excitedly.

"A shoal of seals couldn't do it, sir," said the man, gruffly. "Come
back, sir!" he roared, for, as if to prove his words, the dog made a
sudden dash, freed himself from Gwyn's grasp, and plunged forward to
swim, but was swept back directly, and would have been borne right away
if Gwyn had not snatched at his thick coat as he passed, and held him.

"But we must make for the shaft," cried Joe, passionately.

"We can't sir! It's suicide! We couldn't swim, and just a bit farther
on, I tell you, the place must be full to the roof. Why, there must be
eight or ten foot o' water in the shaft."

"Then are we lost?" cried Joe.

"A fellow's never lost as long as he can make a fight for it," said
Gwyn, sharply. "Now, then, Sam, what's to be done--go back?"

"Yes, sir, fast as we can, and make for the highest part of the mine."

"Where is that?"

"The water will show u