him, and
the boys walked together to where Hardock sat with his back to them,
smoking.

The man did not hear them coming till they were close to him, when he
started round suddenly, and faced them, letting the pipe drop from
between his lips.

The resentment bubbling up in both of the boys died out on the instant,
as they saw the drawn, ghastly face before them.

"Ah, my lads! Ah, my dear lads!" groaned the man; "that's about the
nighest thing I ever see; but, thank goodness, you're all safe and
sound. Would you two mind shaking hands?"

The boys stared at him, then at each other and back.

"Why, Sam!" said Gwyn, huskily.

"Yes; it's me, my lad," he replied, with a groan, "what there is left on
me. I've been trying a pipe, but it aren't done me no good, not a bit.
I seem to see young Jollivet there going head first over the cliff; and
the mortal shiver it did send through me was something as I never felt
afore."

"Why, you laughed at us!" said Joe, with his resentment flashing up
again.

"Laughed at yer? Course I did. What was I to do? If I'd ha' told yer
both you was in danger, wouldn't it ha' frightened you so as you'd ha'
been too froze up to help yourselves?"

"No; I don't think so," cried Joe.

"Don't yer? Well, I'm sure on it. I couldn't do anything but hold on
to the rope, and no one could ha' saved you but yourselves."

"But you shouldn't have laughed," said Gwyn, gravely.

"What was I to do then, Colonel? It was the only thing likely to spur
you up. I thought it would make you both wild like, and think you
warn't in such a queer strait, and it did."

The boys exchanged glances.

"Yes," continued Hardock, as he shook hands solemnly with both, "there
was nobody to help you, my lads, but yourselves, and I made you do that;
but talk about giving a man a turn--Oh, dear! oh, dear! And now my
pipe's gone right out."

"Light it again, then, Sam," said Gwyn, quietly, as he stooped stiffly
to pick up the fallen pipe, and hand it to its owner.

"Thank ye, my lad, thank ye; but I don't feel in the humour for no pipes
to-day, I'm just as if I've had a very gashly turn."

"But you might have tied the rope round me better, Sam," said Gwyn.

"Ay, I might, my lad, but somehow I didn't. Are you hurt much?"

"Only sore, with the rope cutting me."

"Nay, but I mean when you fell down the shaft. Did you hit yourself
again' the sides?"

"No. It was very horrible, though. One moment I was t