me," cried Gwyn. "Keep on, sir, and try. You must
get to the top, where Joe Jollivet is."

"No, no; let me die in quiet."

"Very well; when I have got you into a good dry place. You can't die in
peace with the cold black water creeping over you."

"N-no," said Hardock, with a shiver.

"Come on, then, at once," cried Gwyn; and, unable to resist the
imperious way in which he was ordered, the poor fellow began to struggle
up the narrow rift, while Gwyn, keeping his fears to himself, trembled
lest the place should prove too strait.

Twice over Hardock came to a stand; but at a word from Gwyn he made
fresh efforts, the way in which the lad showed him the road encouraging
him somewhat; till at last, panting and exhausted, he dragged himself
beyond the last angle, and rolled over upon the stony slope where Joe
had been holding his lanthorn over the dark passage, and looking down.

"We can go no farther till he's rested," whispered Gwyn.

"No; but look how the water's rising. How long will it be before it
reaches up to here?"

Gwyn shook his head, and listened to the murmur of the rising flood,
which sounded soft and distant; but the rush of wind grew louder,
sweeping up the cavity with the loud whistling sound of a tempest.

Gwyn rose to his knees, trimmed his light, and said less breathlessly
now,--

"Let Sam rest a bit, while we try and find how Grip went."

And he held up the light and shaded his eyes.

There was no need of a painted white arrow to point the way, for the
whistling wind could be felt now by extending a hand from where they lay
in shelter; and as soon as Gwyn began to creep on all-fours towards the
upper portion of the sloping cavity in which they lay, the fierce
current of air pressed against him as the water had when he was wading a
short time before.

"Better keep the lanthorn back in shelter," said Gwyn, hastily; "it
makes mine gutter down terribly."

He handed Joe the ring, and once more went on to find the wide opening
they had reached rapidly contract till once more it resembled the jagged
passage through which they had forced themselves.

The slope was greater, though, and the way soon became a chimney-like
climb, changing directions again and again, while in the darkness the
wind whistled and shrieked by him furiously, coming with so much force
that it felt as if it was impelling him forward.

And still he went on climbing along the tunnel-like place till further
progress was