Part 79 (1/2)
He climbed on, the others following him; and he called to the dog again, but there was still no reply.
”Are you clear of the water?” he cried.
”Yes, sir, four foot above it,” said Hardock, who came last, ”but it's rising fast.”
”I say,” cried Gwyn, wildly, ”is there a way out here?”
”Nay, sir, this is only a blind lead. What is it up where you are?”
”Like a flattened-out hole with the rock all covered with tiny crystals.
There must be a way up to the surface here; don't you feel how the wind comes by us?”
”Yes; my light flickers, but it burns dull,” said Joe.
”Ay, and it will come sharper yet,” said Hardock; ”the water's driving it all before it. Don't you feel how hot it is?”
”Yes.”
”Maybe it'll suffocate us before the water comes.”
”Grip! Grip! Grip!” shouted Gwyn; and then, after waiting, he made his companions' hearts beat by crying back to them loudly, ”I don't care, there is a way out here.”
”Can't be, sir.”
”But Grip has gone through.”
”Nay, sir, he's wedged himself up, and he's dead, as we shall soon be.”
”Oh, Joe, Joe!” roared Gwyn, pa.s.sionately; ”kick out behind at that miserable, croaking old woman. There is a way out, for I can feel the hot air rus.h.i.+ng up by me.”
”Ah!” groaned Hardock, ”it's very well for you young gents up there; but I'm at the bottom, and the water's creeping up after me. To think after all these years o' mining I should live to be drowned in a crack like this!”
Just then a loud rustling and scrambling noise was heard.
”What is it, Ydoll? What are you doing?”
”There's a big stone here, wedged across the slope, or I could get higher. It's loose, and I think I can--hah!”
The lad uttered an exultant shout, for with a loud rattle the flat block gave way, and came rattling and sliding down.
”Got it!” cried Gwyn. ”I'm pa.s.sing it under me. Come close, Joe, and catch hold, as it reaches my feet.”
Joe climbed a little higher, by forcing his knees against the wall of the crack facing him, and, reaching up, he got hold of the block and lowered it, till, fearing that if he let go, it might injure Hardock, he bade him come higher and pa.s.s it beneath him.
”Nay, nay, let me be,” groaned Hardock; ”it's all over now. I'm spent.”
”Let it fall on him to rouse him up,” shouted Gwyn.--”You, Sam, lay hold of that stone.”
The man roused himself, and, climbing higher over the ragged, sharp, p.r.i.c.kly crystals, reached up and took hold of the stone, pa.s.sed it under him, and it fell away down for a few feet, and then there was a sullen splash.