Part 61 (1/2)

”That means we're both going to be very rich some day,” said Gwyn; ”but it doesn't matter. Come on, and let's give old Grip a jolly good run.

Come on, old dog.”

Grip did not come, but led off; and they made for the edge of the cliff, which ran along, on an average, three hundred feet above where the waves beat at their feet, but they had not gone far before Joe, who had glanced back, said quickly,--

”What's Tom Dina.s.s following us for out here?”

Gwyn glanced back, too.

”Not following us,” he said quickly; ”he's making for the bend of the rock yonder.”

”Yes,” said Joe; ”but that's where he knows we shall have to pa.s.s. What does he mean? He must have seen us at the mine and followed.”

”I don't know,” said Gwyn, thoughtfully; and a peculiar feeling of uneasiness attacked him. ”But never mind; let's go on, or he'll think we're afraid of him.”

”I am,” said Joe, frankly.

”Well, then, if you are, you mustn't show it. Come on. Quiet, Grip.”

For though the man was several hundred yards away, Grip had caught sight of him, set up all the thick hair about his neck, and uttered a low, deep growl.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

GWYN'S ERROR.

All at once, as the boys went along near the cliff edge, they found that Dina.s.s had disappeared, and Joe expressed himself as being relieved.

”Went back beyond that ridge of rocks, I suppose,” said Gwyn; ”but I certainly thought he wanted to cut us off for some reason. Well, it's a good job he has gone.”

But a little later they found that Dina.s.s had not gone, for all the while Grip had had an eye on his movements and had acted after the manner of a dog.

For, after about five minutes, there was a sharp barking heard as the boys trudged on.

”Why, where's Grip?” said Gwyn. ”I thought he was here.”

The barking was repeated, and the dog was seen close to the edge of the cliff a hundred yards away, barking at something below him.

”What's he found?” said Joe.

”Oh, it's only at the gulls lower down. There's that shelf where it looks as if the granite had slipped down a little way. Let's see what he is about.”

The dog kept up his barking, and the boys walked up, to find no gull below, but Tom Dina.s.s seated in a nook smoking his pipe, with a couple of ominous-looking pieces of stone within reach of his hand, both evidently intended for Grip's special benefit should he attack, which he refrained from doing.

”Mornin', gentlemen,” said the man. ”Wish you'd keep that dawg chained up when you come to the mine; you see he don't like me.”

”He won't hurt you if you don't tease him,” said Gwyn. ”Come to heel, Grip.”

The dog uttered a remonstrant growl, but obeyed, and Dina.s.s drew himself back against the cliff.

”Safer down here,” he said.