r candle wouldn't light
again, that it's all burnt down in the socket?"

"Oh, I did get it to light at last of all," said Dinass; "but I had to
burn all my matches first, and hadn't one left for a pipe."

"But you said you went about all in the dark."

"Yes, that was afterwards, and it soon burned out."

"Soon burned out!" cried Vores, fiercely. "Look here, mates; this
fellow's a stranger here, and I don't know why he should have been set
over us, for he's a liar, that's what he is. He didn't want to go down,
and as soon as he could he hung back, and let those two poor boys go on
all by themselves."

"What!" cried Dinass, as a murmur arose; "it's you that's the liar;" and
he rose scowling.

"Dessay I am," said Vores as fiercely; "but I'm a honest sort of liar,
if I am, and not a coward and a sneak, am I, lads?"

"Nay, that you aren't, Harry Vores," cried another miner. "We'll all
say that."

"Ay! Shame, shame!" cried the miners.

"I'll lay a halfpenny he's been waiting at the bottom of the shaft all
the time, and then come up."

"Get out of the way," roared Vores, "this is men's work, not cowards'.
Here, lads, come on, we must go and fetch those boys up at once."

He gave Dinass a heavy thrust with his hand as he spoke, and the man
staggered back against Grip, who retaliated by seizing him by the leg of
the trousers and hanging on till he was kicked away.

But this incident was hardly noticed, for the men were busily arming
themselves with lanthorns and candles ready for the descent.

"Four of us'll be enough," said Vores, every man present having come
forward to descend. "Perhaps Tom Dinass, Esquire, would like to go too,
though. If so, we can make room for him."

There was a roar of laughter at this, and Dinass glared round at the
men, as he stood holding one leg resting on the bench, as if it had been
badly bitten by the dog.

"Ready?" cried Vores.

"Ay, ay," was answered.

"Come on, then, and let's get the boys up. Dessay they've found their
fathers before now."

Vores stepped to the skep and laid his hand on the rail just as the last
lanthorn was lit and snapped to, when there was the sharp ting on the
gong again--the signal from below--and the men gave a hearty cheer.

"Give another, my lads," cried Vores; and instead of taking their places
in the empty skep, the men stood round and saw it descend, while they
watched the other portion of the endless wire rope beginning to ascend
ste