wind and the gurgle of water went on as if it were
boiling violently; and something like sleep overtook them, for they did
not move.

But from time to time Gwyn bent over one or the other of the lanthorns
to see to the candles, his one great dread being now lest they should
sink into a deep stupor, and come to, finding that they were in the
dark.

Then suddenly, after lying down for some time trying to imagine that it
was all some terrible dream, there was a quick, short bark; and unable
to bear this, the lad uttered a wild cry, and then, from the terrible
tension being taken so suddenly from off his nerves, he burst into a
hysterical fit of laughter.

The next minute Grip was licking at his face, following it up by the
same endearment bestowed upon the other two, and then bursting into a
prolonged fit of barking.

CHAPTER FIFTY.

NEWS FROM GRASS.

"Ydoll! Ydoll! Look! look!" cried Joe, suddenly. "Here, Grip! Grip!
Quick!"

But Gwyn had seen and caught at the dog's collar as soon as Joe had
shouted to him; and as rapidly as his trembling fingers would allow, he
untied the string which bound a white packet to the ring in the dog's
collar.

It was a note written in pencil, the words large, and easy to see; but
they seemed to sail round before the lad's eyes, and minutes had elapsed
before he could read in his father's bold hand:--

"Try and keep a good heart. Grip has shown us the way, and, please
God, we'll reach you before many hours have passed. Tie a
handkerchief to the dog's collar if you get this, and are all well.
Send him back at once.

"Arthur Pendarve."

A strange sobbing sound escaped from Gwyn's lips as with trembling hands
he tied his pocket-handkerchief tightly to the dog's collar.

"Now, Grip!" he cried in a husky voice which did not sound like his own;
and the dog, who was standing panting, with his tongue out and curled up
at the tip, uttered an eager bark. "Home! home!" cried Gwyn; and the
dog made for the hole, dashed in, and disappeared, while his master
crept away into the darkness of the lowest part of the long, sloping
grotto-like place, and half-an-hour must have passed before he joined
the others and lay down close to the hole where Grip had disappeared.

They had no idea of how the time passed, and they could not speak, for
their hearts were too full. Words did not come till they heard a fresh
barking, and the dog came scuffling out of the opening into the