"Pumped out? That will never be, my boy. The water must have broken
into one of the workings which ran beneath the sea, and unless the
breach could be found and stopped it would be impossible."

"Don't leave me for very long," said the Major, after they had sat with
him some time; "but go for a bit--it will do you good."

The two lads went straight away to the mine, where the engineer was busy
cleaning portions of the machinery, but ready enough to leave off and
talk to them.

"Want to get my engines in good order, sir, so that they'll sell well,
for they'll never be wanted again. Nay, sir, that mine'll never be
pumped out any more. Sea's broke in somewhere beyond low-water mark.
It's all over now."

"Do you think Tom Dinass was below?" said Gwyn.

"Yes, poor fellow. He's a man I never liked; but there, he never liked
me. No one saw him go down, but he's never been seen since."

They left the silent mine--only so short a time back a complete hive of
industry--and went on to Harry Vores' cottage, where the owner was busy
gardening, and Sam Hardock was seated in the doorway sunning himself,
but ready to try and rise on seeing the two lads, though he sank back
with a groan.

"How are you, gen'lemen? How are you?" he cried cheerily. "Very glad
to see you both about; I can't manage it yet. Water's got in my legs;
but the sun's drying it out, and as soon as I can walk I'm going to see
about that bit of business. You know."

"There drop it, Sam, old man," said Vores, who had left his gardening to
come up and shake hands. "Glad to see you gentlemen. Been down by the
mine? Looks sad, don't it, not to have the smoke rising and the stamps
rattling?"

"Don't you interrupt," said Hardock. "I want to talk to the young
masters about him. Have you told the guv'nors what I said about Tom
Dinass?"

"'Course they haven't," said Vores. "He's got a crotchet in his head,
gentlemen, that poor Tom Dinass made a hole, and let in the sea-water."

"Crotchet? Ah, I know, and so do they. I say he did it out o' spite."

"How?" said Vores, with a grim smile at the visitors.

"I don't say how," replied Hardock; "but if we knew we should find he
sunk dinnymite somehow and fired it over one of the old workings."

"Struck a match and held it under water, eh?"

"Don't you talk about what you don't understand," said Hardock, sternly.
"You ask the young gentlemen here if shots can't be fired under water
with 'lectric shoc