Part 59 (2/2)

”Hold up, sir; he must be close at hand. The dog keeps in one place, so he must have found them. Here, here, here!”

There was a long whistle, but the dog did not leave his place, only gave a sharp bark; and the next minute lights were being held over the Major and Colonel Pendarve, as they knelt beside their sons, trying all they knew to bring them back to their senses.

Their efforts were not without effect, for after a time Gwyn opened his eyes, stared blankly at the light, and said feebly,--

”Don't! Let me go to sleep.”

Shortly after the two boys were being carefully carried in a semi-unconscious state by the willing hands of the search-party, through the bewildering mazes of the old mine, with Grip trotting on in front as if he were in command; and in this way the foot of the shaft was reached and they were safely taken to gra.s.s.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

GRIP'S ANTIPATHY.

”I really think you ought to stay in, Gwyn,” said Mrs Pendarve, anxiously.

”Oh, I'll stay in if you like, mother,” said the boy, patting the hand that was laid upon his arm, and looking affectionately in his mother's eyes; ”but don't you think it would be all nonsense?”

”Yes,” said the Colonel, firmly, as he looked up from the work he was reading. ”He's quite well, my dear.”

”No, no, my love; he's too pale to be well.”

”Fancy, my dear; but perhaps he may be. Describe your symptoms, Gwyn, my boy.”

”Haven't got any to describe, father,” said Gwyn, merrily.

”Well, then, to satisfy your mother, how do you feel?”

”Ashamed of myself, father, for having had the doctor.”

”Exactly. He's quite well, my dear. It was bad for him, of course; but a strong, healthy boy does not take long to recover from a long walk and some enforced abstinence--There, you can go, Gwyn, and--”

”Yes, father?” said the boy, for the Colonel paused.

”There's young Jollivet coming over the hill, so Major Jollivet and I would feel greatly obliged if you two lads did not get into another sc.r.a.pe for some time to come.”

”Oh, I say,” cried Gwyn, ”I do call that too bad. Isn't it, mother?

Father lets the Major take him down and get lost in the mine--”

”Nothing of the kind, sir. We found our way back--you did not.”

”And then when we go down,” continued Gwyn, without heeding his father's words, ”to try and find them, father calls it getting into a sc.r.a.pe.”

”Ah, well, never mind what I called it,” said the Colonel, smiling; ”but be careful, please. We don't want any more exploring.”

Gwyn went off, met Joe, and they made for a favourite place on the cliff where they could look down on the sea and the sailing gulls to have a chat about their late adventure, this being their first meeting since they were carried home from the mine.

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