Part 53 (1/2)
”Ay, it's all very well to talk, but what can we do?--cooey?”
”No good, or I'd cooey loud enough to bring some of the stones down. I say, though, isn't it wonderful how solid it all is--no stones falling from the roof.”
”How could they fall when there are none to fall? Isn't it all cut through the solid rock?”
”Humph! yes, I suppose so; but we have found scarcely anything to fall over.”
”No,” said Joe, sarcastically, ”it's a lovely place. I wish the beastly old mine had been burnt before we had anything to do with it.”
”Oh, I say, what a plucked 'un you are, Joey. Breaking down over a bit of trouble. I feel ever so much better now, for I'm sure the dad has found his way out.”
”I was thinking about my father.”
”Well, so was I. My father wouldn't go out without yours. They're too good old chums to forsake one another; and you see if before long they don't both come with a lot of men carrying baskets--cold roast chicken, slices of ham, bread and b.u.t.ter, and a kettle and wood to light the fire and make some tea.”
”I say! don't, don't, don't,” cried Joe. ”I was bad enough before, now you're making me feel savagely hungry. But I say, Ydoll, do you really think they've got out?”
”I'm sure of it.”
”And not lost themselves so that they won't be found till it's too late?”
”Get out! Too late? They'll be all right, and so shall we; we're only lost for a bit in the dark, and we don't mind a bit. I don't now. I feel as plucky as a gamec.o.c.k. And I say, Joe.”
”Well?”
”Tom Dina.s.s?”
”What about him?--a beast!”
”What we're going to do when we see the sneak again. I say, it won't be the first time we've had a set-to with him.”
”Oh, I should like to--”
”Ah!”
Gwyn uttered a wild cry, as if something from out of the darkness had seized him; and as the cry went echoing down the long zigzag pa.s.sage in which they were, Joe uttered a gasp, and in spite of his desire to stand by his friend, dashed off from the unknown danger by which they were beset.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
GWYN GIVES IT UP.
There came a dull sound out of the darkness, as if Joe had struck against the wall of the mine; but he gave vent to no exclamation, and Gwyn cried to him to stop.
”Where are you? Don't run off like that, Joe!--Joe! Where are you?”
”Here,” said the lad, hoa.r.s.ely. ”What is it? What has hurt you?”
”Hurt me? I thought something had hurt you. What made you rush off?”