Vores' cottage getting right fast."

"And Tom Dinass? Where is he?" cried Gwyn.

"Dinass? Great heavens! Is he somewhere in the mine?"

"No," said Gwyn, frowning. "I only want to know where he is."

"Never mind about him," said the Colonel.

Gwyn nodded his head and became very thoughtful.

"There, you had better lie in bed to-day, and the effects of your
terrible experience will pass off. We have suffered agonies since the
alarm was given."

"Did the lads all escape?"

"Every man," said the Colonel; "but some of the last up were nearly
drowned, for the water had risen to their necks at the foot of the shaft
when they reached the man-engine."

"Grip came and told you where we were?" said Gwyn, after a pause.

"Yes, and led us to the opening up which he had come."

"Where was it, father?"

"In the face of the cliff--a mile away."

"What, overlooking the sea?"

"Yes, my boy, and the air was rushing out of it with tremendous force.
It was a mere crack, and took a long time to open sufficiently for a man
to pass in. But there, don't talk about it. We have passed through as
terrible an experience as you, and it has nearly killed the Major."

Gwyn passed the greater part of the next twenty-four hours in sleep, and
then woke up, and was very little the worse. He rose and went to Joe,
who snatched at his hand, and then nearly broke down; but, mastering his
emotion, he too insisted upon getting up; and soon after the two lads
went on to the Major's, where the old officer was lying back in an
easy-chair.

"Hah!" he cried, as he grasped the boys' hands; "now I shall be able to
get better. This has nearly killed me, Joe, my boy; but I've been
coming round ever since they found you."

"Tell us how it all was, father," said Joe, as he sat holding the
Major's hand in his. "Colonel Pendarve always put me off when I asked
him, and told me to wait."

"I'm ready to do the same, my boy, for it has been very horrible. But,
thank heaven, only one life has been lost!"

"Has one man been drowned?" cried Gwyn, excitedly. "I thought everyone
was saved."

"One man is missing, Gwyn--that man Dinass. They say he was hanging
about the mine that day, and he has not been seen since, and I'm afraid
he went down unnoticed. Oh, dear; I wish we had not engaged in this
wild scheme; but it is too late to repent, and the poor fellow will
never be found."

"Not when the mine is pumped out again, father?" said Joe.