exertions till, to their horror, they reached the
bottom of the funnel-shaped entrance without finding a vestige of him
they sought.

"Back again!" cried Mr Rogers; and returning, they again searched the
gloomy passages for hours, till they were obliged to return to the mouth
of the cavern for fresh lights.

The Boer lad looked horrified, and he anxiously ran off for fresh
torches, feeling himself to blame as guide, for having lost one of the
party.

"Jack," said Mr Rogers hoarsely, "run to the waggon, and fetch some
biscuits, a little brandy, and the two large lamps, with a few extra
candles. Be quick!"

"I'll go too, father," cried Dick eagerly. And the boys were about to
start, when Dick added, "Shall I bring over the General, father?"

"Yes, and his boys. We must find Dinny."

Dick and Jack, weary and wet as they were, ran off to the little camp,
the smoke of whose fire they could see, and on reaching it, panting and
exhausted, the first object they saw was Dinny, lying under a tree with
his mouth open, fast asleep.

"Oh, I am glad," cried Jack.

"So am I," cried Dick; "and sorry--and cross," he added, running up to
Dinny, and giving him a kick in the ribs.

"Aisy there," said Dinny, yawning and opening his eyes. "Shure, I'm
coming. Ah, Masther Dick, and have ye got back out of the black hole?"

"How came you here?" cried Dick angrily.

"How kim I here, Masther Dick? Shure it was on me own handsome pair o'
legs."

"But we thought you were lost."

"Lost! bedad, not I. Shure, I sez, they're going to carry the light
themselves, an' they don't want me anny longer; so I just sat down on a
big shtone, while I took out me matchbox, and lit me morsel of candle I
had in me pocket, and I kim back, and afther getting me dinner ready, I
laid down for a rest."

"Oh!" cried Dick wrathfully.

He could say no more; but his brother spoke for him in a way that made
Dinny uncomfortable, as the boys turned sharply and ran back, reaching
the mouth of the cavern just as the Boer lad came up with his torches.

Mr Rogers started up.

"Where are the lanterns?" he cried. Then, seeing that the boys had
something to say he eagerly listened; and the next moment, with his brow
knotted with anger, he strode off to the waggon.

"Jack," whispered Dick, "I never saw father look so cross as that."

He was angry indeed, and they saw him seize Dinny by the throat, force
him upon his knees, and raise his clenched fist to