Part 50 (2/2)
There was a dead silence, during which every man thought of the frank lads, who had won the hearts of those who knew them, but no one spoke.
”Well, boys,” said Hardock at last, ”has anyone anything to say? As for me, I don't feel like sneaking out of it; I think I'll be for leading the search-party if anyone volunteers.”
”Oh, some on us'll volunteer,” said one of the men. ”I don't feel like going home to my supper and bed--to can't eat, and to can't sleep for thinking of those two merry lads as I've often gone out to fish with and shared their dinner with 'em. Not me. I'll volunteer.”
”Same here, my lads,” said Vores; ”I'm with you. That's two of us.
Anyone else say the word?”
”Ay!--ay!--ay!” Quite a chorus of 'ays' broke out as the miners volunteered to a man.
”Well done,” cried Vores, ”that's hearty; I feel just as if I'd had a good meal, and was fresh as a daisy. But we can't all stay. Sam Hardock, how many do you want to help carry the guv'nor back?”
”Three twos,” said Hardock, ”for I'm no use yet. I can only just carry myself.”
”That's seven then, so pick your men and we'll stay, five of us, and find the lads somehow.”
”I say that Harry Vores leads us,” said the man who had first volunteered.
”Hear, hear!” was chorused, and a few minutes only elapsed before Hardock had chosen his party and turned to raise the Colonel, to go back.
”What's limpet-sh.e.l.ls and sand doing down here?” said Vores, as he held a lanthorn to light the men.
”Forsils,” said Hardock, glancing at a couple Vores had picked up.
”Nay, they aren't stony sh.e.l.ls,” said Vores. ”I know; they used to eat 'em, and they're some the old chaps as did the mining brought down for dinner.”
”Ready?” said Hardock.
”Ay, ay,” cried the men, who had made what children call a dandy chair with their hands, and supported the Colonel, whose arms were placed about their necks.
”Then as he says, and I wish I could hear him say it now, 'Forward!'”
The men started, and Hardock turned to Vores.
”Seems like acting Tom Dina.s.sy, my lad,” he said bitterly. ”I don't feel as if I could go.”
”Do you want to get up a row?” said Vores, sourly. ”Be off and look after the guv'nor; don't stop putting us chaps out of heart and making us think you jealous of me doing your work.”
Hardock held out his hand to his fellow-workman.
”Thank ye, my lad,” he said. ”Go on, then, and take care. I've kept just enough candle to last us to the shaft foot; don't go farther than you can find your way out.”
”We're going to find those two boys,” said Vores through his set teeth.
”By-and-by, if we don't come back, you send a fresh s.h.i.+ft, and let 'em bring us some prog and some blankets; but I'm hoping you'll find them up at gra.s.s when you get there. Now off you go, and so do we.”
They parted without another word, and the next minute the dim light of the lanthorns borne by the men were dying away in two directions--the party bearing the Colonel progressing slowly till he recovered himself somewhat and ordered them to stop.
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