Part 76 (1/2)

”But it's all a scare,” said Gwyn, banteringly.

”I hope so, sir, but I feel unked like, and as if something's very wrong.”

”Think of old Grip playing the sneak,” said Joe, as they finally cleared the grotto-like cracks, and came upon flooring better for walking.

”Nay, sir, he's no sneak. He's only gone to see what's the matter.”

”Without a light?” cried Gwyn.

”He wants no light, sir. His eyes are not like ours. Would you mind walking a little faster?”

”No; lead on, and we'll keep up. But how long will it take us to get to the foot of the shaft?”

”Two hours, sir.”

”So long as that?”

”Every minute of it, sir--if we get there at all,” said the man to himself. And now they walked on at a good steady rate, only pausing once to trim their lights, and at last came to a turn familiar to both the lads, for it was the beginning of the pa.s.sage where they had had the scare from having to pa.s.s through water, but at the end farthest from that which they had come by in the early part of the day.

”Won't go through here, Sam?” said Gwyn.

”Much the nighest, sir; but we don't want to be soaked. Would you mind going a little way down here?”

”Not I,” said Gwyn; and the man led on, Joe following without a word.

”Don't look like that, Jolly,” whispered Gwyn. ”I suppose everyone gets scared at some time in a place like this. It's Sam's turn now. Hallo!”

”Can't go any farther, sir,” said Hardock, huskily. ”The water's right up to here, and farther on it must reach the roof.”

Gwyn needed no telling, for the reflection of their lights was glancing from the floor, and he knew perfectly well that no water ought to be there.

A chill ran through him--a sensation such as he would have experienced had he suddenly plunged neck deep in the icy water, and he turned a look full of agony at Joe, who caught at his arm.

”The sea has broken in--the sea has broken in!” he cried; and quick as lightning Gwyn bent down, scooped up some of the black-looking water, and held it to his lips.

It was unmistakably brackish.

”It can't have broke in, my lads--it can't,” cried Hardock. ”Come on, and let's go round by the pillar place and get to the men as quick as we can. There must be some spring burst out; but they'll set the pumps at work as soon as they know, and soon pull it down again. Come on.”

With their hearts beating heavily from excitement, the two lads followed the captain as he hurried back along the gallery to the spot where they had turned down; and then, as fast as they could go, they made for the pillared hall, expecting to find some of the men close by; but when they reached it, there being no sign of water, there was not a soul visible.

There was proof, though, that it was not long since there were men there, for the ends of two candles were still burning where they had been stuck against the wall; tools were lying here and there, and a couple of half-filled skeps were standing on the low four-wheeled trucks waiting to be run along the little tramway to the shaft.

No one said so, but each saw for certain that there must have been a sudden alarm, and the men had fled.

”Come on,” said Hardock, hoa.r.s.ely; but his heart was sinking, and Gwyn knew that there was a gradual descent toward the bottom of the shaft.

But they walked rapidly on for fully half-an-hour before they came to the first trace of water, and it was startling when they did.

The gallery they were in entered the next--a lower one--at right-angles; and as they reached that end dry-footed, their lights gleamed from the face of running water which was gliding rapidly by in a regular stream of a few inches deep.

It was Joe who stooped quickly down now to scoop up some of the water and taste it, which he did in silence.