him with a start, he saw his
friend's face looking down upon him, surrounded by a pale, bluish glow
of light.

"Want a hand?" cried Gwyn.

"No; I can do it," was the reply, and Joe climbed beyond an angle to
find himself in a sloping, flattened cave, whose roof was about four
feet above his head; how far it extended the darkness beyond the
lanthorn concealed.

"Come on, Sam," cried Gwyn, as he looked down the slope he had ascended
expecting to see the man's face just below; but it was not visible, and,
saving the hissing of the hot wind and the strange gurgling of rushing
water, there was not a sound.

"He's dead!" cried Joe, wildly.

"No, no; don't say that," whispered Gwyn. "It's too horrible just when
we are going to escape;" and, without pausing, he lowered himself over
the angle of the rock and began to descend.

"Hold the light over," he said. "Ah, mind, or you'll have it out."

For the candle flickered in the steady draught which came rushing up
from below, and it had to be drawn partly back for shelter.

"Sam!" cried Gwyn, as he descended; but there was no reply, and the
dread grew within the lad's breast as he went on down into the darkness.

"I shall be obliged to come back for the light," he shouted. "I can see
nothing down here. How far is he back?"

"I don't know," said Joe, despairingly. "I thought he was close behind
me. Shall I come down with the lanthorn?"

"Yes, you must, part of the way--to help me. No, I can just touch his
lanthorn with my foot--here he is!"

"All right?" faltered Joe.

"I think so," replied Gwyn, slowly. "Here, Sam Hardock, what's the
matter?--why don't you come on?"

"It's of no good," said the man, feebly; "I'm done, I tell you. Why
can't you let me die in peace?"

"Because you've got to help us out of this place?"

"I? Help you?"

"Yes; it's your duty. You've no right to lie like that, giving up
everything."

"I'm so weak and sleepy," protested the man.

"So was I, but I fought it all down. Now then, climb up to where he
is."

"I--I can't, Mr Gwyn; and, besides, it's too narrow for me."

"How do you know till you try? Come: up with you at once."

"Must I, Mr Gwyn, sir?"

"Yes, of course; so get up and try."

Sam Hardock groaned, and began to creep slowly up the steep slope, Gwyn
leading the way; but at the end of a minute the man subsided.

"It's of no use, sir; I can't do it. I haven't the strength of a rat."

"Keep on; it will co