Part 45 (2/2)
”I'm not going to have you fall asleep again. Come, rouse up, Master Mark; I'm ashamed of you. For two pins I'd hit you over the head.”
”What!” cried Mark, in an access of pa.s.sion; ”why, you ugly big-headed mole, how dare you speak to me like that?”
”'Cause I like,” cried Dummy sharply. ”Talking of going to deep, like a great gal. Yah! Gen'lemen aren't no use. Never do have no legs.”
”You insolent dog!” roared Mark, leaping at him, and striking the boy twice heavily on the back, with the result that the one candle was jerked out of the stick he carried, to fly forward on to the floor, flicker for a moment or two, and then, before it could be seized, go out, and with it Mark's bit of pa.s.sion.
”Oh!” he cried, as he stood fast in the darkness.
”There, you've done it now,” cried Dummy, in mock tones of horror.
”Yes, be quick; get out the flint and steel.”
”What for?”
”To get a light.”
”For you to begin knocking me about again.”
”No, no, Dummy; I won't touch you again. It was your fault: you made me so cross.”
”All right, Master Mark,” said the boy, with a good-humoured laugh. ”I only did it o' purpose to wake you up, and it has. I don't mind what you did. Don't feel sleepy now, do you?”
”No, no, I'm quite awake. The drowsy feeling has gone off. Come, light the candle.”
”Shan't now,” replied Dummy. ”We're only a little way off now, and I can manage.”
”But are you sure?”
”Oh yes, I'm sure enough, Master Mark. Wait a minute.”
”Yes. What are you going to do?”
”Only unloose a few rings of this line we brought.”
”What for? If you play me any tricks now we're in the dark, I'll--”
”Who's going to play any tricks?” grumbled the boy. ”Men don't play tricks. Here, kitch holt: now you can follow me, and feel me, if you keep the rope tight, and won't go hitting yourself again the wall.”
Mark grasped the end of the rope handed to him, and they started forward in the intense blackness, the novelty and sense of shrinking soon pa.s.sing off, and the lad feeling more and more confidence in his leader.
”Don't feel a bit sleepy now, do you?” asked Dummy.
”Not in the least. I say, are you sure that you can go on without taking a wrong turning?”
”Oh yes, I'm right enough, Master Mark.”
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