Part 84 (1/2)

”No, my lad, I'll do that,” said a familiar voice. ”There's room to pa.s.s here. Think you can go on crawling up now?”

”Yes--yes, I'm all right. Did I faint?”

”I suppose so, sir. Wait a moment.” There was a moment's pause, and then Gwyn heard the words bellowed out, ”All clear! Got to them!

Coming now.”

There was a murmur at a distance, and then Vores spoke again,--

”I'm coming by you now. Are the others strong enough to crawl?”

”Yes,” said Gwyn, faintly, for his heart was beating strangely now just when he felt that he ought to be at his strongest and best.

”You, there, Ydoll?” came loudly.

”Yes; all right,” cried Gwyn. ”Where's Sam Hardock?”

”Crawling up after me,” came more loudly.

”Then I must go back,” said Vores. ”P'raps I'd better lead, Mr Gwyn.”

”Yes, yes, go on, and we'll follow,” said Gwyn, more faintly; and he felt the man pa.s.s him again, there being just room.

”Must go very slowly,” said Vores, ”because there's no room to turn for another fifty yards or so. Going backward takes time. Now, then, come on, all on you.”

Once more Gwyn's dizzy feeling came back, but he struggled on, conscious that his rescuer's face was close to his--so close that at times their hands touched. Then, after what seemed to be a long nightmare journey, the man's words sounded clearer on his ears.

”It's wider here. Goes zigzagging along with one or two close nips, and then we're out to the crack in the cliff.”

Gwyn did not reply. He felt that if he spoke his words would be wild and incoherent, and that all his strength was required to crawl along this terrible crevice in the rock. He was conscious of a hand touching his foot from time to time, and of hearing voices, and of pa.s.sing over loose, small pieces of shattered rock which might have resulted from the explosion.

At last, after what seemed to be a terrible distance, a voice said, ”Out of the way, dog,” and directly after a cold wet nose touched his brow, and there was a snuffing sound at his ear, followed by a joyous barking.

Then gradually all grew more dense and dark in his brain, and the next thing he remembered was being touched by hands, and feeling the contraction of a rope about his chest followed by a burst of cheering which seemed to take place far away down in the mine; for the roaring and whistling of the wind had ceased, so that he could hear distinctly that hurrahing; and then he heard nothing, for, strong in spirit while the danger lasted, that energy was all used now, and of what took place Gwyn Pendarve knew no more.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.

IN THE LIGHT.

”Yes, what is it? Who's there?”

”Oh, Gwyn, my boy, my boy!” came piteously; and two soft arms raised him from his pillow to hold him to a throbbing breast, while pa.s.sionate lips pressed warm kisses on his face.

”Mother! You! What's the matter? Ah, I remember. You there, father?

Where's Joe? Where's poor old Sam Hardock?”

”Joe Jollivet's in the next room, sleeping soundly; Sam Hardock's at Harry Vores' cottage getting right fast.”

”And Tom Dina.s.s? Where is he?” cried Gwyn.

”Dina.s.s? Great heavens! Is he somewhere in the mine?”