Sappers and Miners | Page 6

quest, which they soon after came upon in the upper
part of a deep gully, on one side of which there was a rough
quadrangular wall of piled-up stones, looking like the foundations of a
hut which had fallen to ruin; and here they paused.
"Now, look here," said the man; "that place don't look anything; but
your father, young Pendarve, has got a fortune in it, and I want to see
what it's like. So what do you say to going down with my hammer and
bringing up a few chips?"
"Why don't you go?" said Gwyn.
"'Cause you two couldn't pull me up again. It's a job for a boy."
"Then let's send down Joe Jollivet. He isn't worth much if we lose
him."
"Oh, I say," began the boy in dismay; but he read the twinkle in his
companion's eye, and laughed.
"I wouldn't mind going down. Is the rope strong?"
"Strong?" said the mining captain. "Think I should have brought it if it
warn't? Hold a schooner."
"Shall I go down, Gwyn?"
The lad addressed did not answer for a few moments, but stood leaning
over the rocky wall, gazing down into a square pit cut through the stone,
the wall having been placed there for protection in case four or
two-legged creatures passed that way.
"But look here," said Joe; "would it be safe?"
"Safe, lad? Do you think I'd let you go if it warn't? How could I face all

your fathers and mothers after?"
"But are you sure you could hold me if I went," said Joe, who began to
look anxious.
"Feel here," said the man, rolling up his sleeves. "There's muscle!
There's bone! That's something like a man's arm, aren't it? Hold you?
Half-a-dozen on you. Man either."
Joe drew a deep sigh.
"I'll go," he said.
"No, you won't," cried Gwyn, fiercely. "It's my father's place, and I
ought to go."
"But I wouldn't mind, Ydoll," said Joe, excitedly.
"I know that, but I'll go first, and you help Sam Hardock."
"Ay, you help me, my lad. I know'd he'd have the pluck to go down."
"You're sure of the rope, Sam?"
"Sure? There, don't you go down if you're afraid."
"Who feels afraid?" cried Gwyn, hotly. "There, how's it to be? Throw
the rope down and slide?"
"No, no," growled the man.
"Loop and sit in it?"
"Nay; I'm too fearful over you, my lad. But do you mean it?"
"Mean it? Yes, of course," said the boy, flushing.
"Then, here you have it. I just make a knot like this about your chesty,
so as it don't grow tight and can't slip. That's your sort. How's that?"

As he spoke, he quickly fastened the end of the rope about the boy's
breast, tested the knot and then lifted Gwyn by it.
"Now, if you stick the hammer in your waistband, and have hold of the
rope above your head with one hand to ease the strain, you'll go down
like a cork, only keep yourself clear of the side."
"Mind and don't turn and roast, Ydoll," cried Joe; "but you'd better let
me go."
"Next time. Ready?" said Gwyn.
"Ay."
"Then over I go."
As if fearing to hesitate, the boy got over the low wall and stood on the
narrow edge of the old, crumbling, fern-hung shaft, and the next
moment he was being lowered down, Joe turning a little faint from
excitement as the upturned face disappeared, and he watched the rope
glide through the man's bony hands.
"How far are you going to let him down?" he said, anxiously.
"Far as he likes, my lad. Till he comes to paying ore. You see that the
rings o' rope run clear, and keep it right for me to run out. He's tidy
heavy for such a little 'un, though."
Joe seized the coil, and made the rope run free, keeping spasmodically
a tight hold of it the while, in case the man should let it slip.
And so some sixty feet were allowed to run out, with Gwyn keeping on
cheerily shouting, "All right!" from time to time.
It was instantaneous.
Suddenly the mining captain started back and blundered against Joe,
completely knocking him over. A wild shriek arose from the old shaft,
sounding hollow, awful and strange, and the rope, which had either

parted or come undone from the boy's chest, was swinging slackly to
and fro in the great black pit.
CHAPTER THREE.
AT AGONY POINT.
Plosh!
There is no combination of letters that will more clearly express the
horrible, echoing, hollow sound which, after what seemed to be a long
interval, but which was almost momentary, rose out of the ancient shaft,
followed by strange and sickening splashings and a faint, panting
noise.
Then all was