way best."

Barney chuckled.

"There arn't much queshtion of knowing the way, sir. There arn't no
first turnings to the left, and second to the right. It's all go ahead,
and you're sure to come out right if you don't get stuck, and I s'pose I
mustn't get jammed anywhere 'cause of you."

He went on, and as I followed I could not help thinking about how
terrible it would be if he did get fast, and more than once a curious
sensation ran through me as he struggled on. But we had no mishap, and
at last crept out to where Bob Hampton and Dumlow were waiting for us.

"You have been a long time, sir," growled the former. "Did you make
anything out of it?"

"Yes, Bob, I reached the forecastle."

"You did, lad! Well done you! I allus thought you'd do something some
day."

Then I told them both of all that had passed, as I lay there in that
hot, dark, stifling hole, thinking though all the while how delightfully
fresh and light it was. When I had finished, Bob rubbed his ear, and
growled softly--

"Why, my lad," he said, "seems to me as it's like pig-shearing."

"Pig-shearing? What do you mean?"

"Much cry and little wool, sir. We've all been crawling about in the
hold like rats, and got to where the t'others are--leastwise you have--
and then you've come back again."

"Yes, Bob."

"Taken all that trouble for nothing."

"Well, but I have been able to talk to them, and make plans."

"Bah, sir, I don't call them plans. What was the good of us all getting
smothered as we was, just to find out as we couldn't do nothing?"

"I communicated with Mr Brymer and Mr Frewen," I cried.

"And said `How de do? I'm quite well thank you, how are you?' Didn't
pay for the trouble, sir. We must do something better than that. What
do you say, Neb?"

"I says as I arn't going to squeedge my carcadge into that hole again if
I knows it, messmate."

"And you, Barney?"

Barney Blane uttered a low deep snore. Worn-out by his exertions, he
had lain down on his back and gone to sleep at once, and ten minutes
later the hot vitiated air had produced such an effect upon me that I
was just as fast, and dreaming of bright sunshine and lovely tropic
lands, till I was aroused by strange noise, and a sharp angry voice
cried--

"Now then, all! _Vite_! _vite_! Tumble up."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

I was so confused by being awakened suddenly from a deep sleep, and by
the light of a lantern flashing in my eyes, that for a