Part 43 (2/2)
”I didn't say it was, mate--I only said it was getting on for four hours. There mayn't be nothing wrong, but there may be; and there wouldn't be no harm in doing something now. What do you say to getting some of the lads to go? They was talking about it when I went outside, as I told mate Dina.s.s here--didn't I, my son?”
”Ay, you did--What do you say, Mr Gwyn?”
”It is time to act,” cried Joe, excitedly.
”Yes,” said Gwyn, as he drew a deep breath, ”we must do something. Get lanthorns and candles.”
”Shall I call to some of the men, sir,” said Dina.s.s, ”and hear what they say?”
The answer came from the doorway, where three or four heads appeared, and one of the owners said:
”I say, mates, aren't it time we heerd something about them as is gone down?”
”Yes,” said Gwyn, firmly; ”we're going down to see. Will you come with me, Joe?”
The boy's lips parted, though no words came; but he put out his hand and gripped his companion's fast.
”Get lights, some of you, quick!” cried Gwyn; and a murmur was heard outside, a murmur that increased till it was a loud cheer; and then, distinctly from outside, a voice was heard to say,--
”Hear that, mates? The young masters are going down.”
And as if to endorse this, Grip, who had suddenly grown excited, burst into a loud bark.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
TRUE TO THE CORE.
”Do you mean it, Master Gwyn?” said Dina.s.s, sharply.
”Mean it? Of course. You'll come with us and help.”
The man's mouth opened widely, and he stared for a few moments before he spoke,--
”Help to get lanthorns and candles, sir? Yes, of course.”
”Come down with us,” said Gwyn, sharply. ”You can't let us go alone.”
”Not let you go alone, sir,” growled the man, surlily. ”Well, you see--”
”Yes, we see,” cried Gwyn, ”you have been used to mines, we have not.”
”Much used to this one as I am, sir. I don't know no more about it than you do.”
”'Course you don't, matey,” said the engineer, ”but you can't say you won't go with 'em to look for the guv'nors and our mate.”
”Can't I? Yes, I can,” cried Dina.s.s, fiercely; ”easy; I won't go-- there!”
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