ng company with their
lanthorns, turned to Vores as their spokesman, and the latter took off
his hat and wiped his streaming brow.

"And I want to find those two poor lads," he said; "but I want to go
back, for it's turrerble work searching a place that you don't know, and
in which you seem to lose your way. It's just madness to go on carrying
the guv'nor with us; and the captain here is dead beat, so it's nonsense
to let him go on."

"Then what must we do?" said Hardock, who looked quite exhausted.

"'Vide into two parties," said Vores. "One, headed by Sam Hardock, 'll
take the guv'nor back to grass; t'other party, all volunteers, 'll
choose a leader and go on searching till a fresh gang comes down and
brings some grub for 'em. That's all I can say. If some 'un 'll make a
better plan I'd be glad to hear it and follow it out."

There was a dead silence, during which every man thought of the frank
lads, who had won the hearts of those who knew them, but no one spoke.

"Well, boys," said Hardock at last, "has anyone anything to say? As for
me, I don't feel like sneaking out of it; I think I'll be for leading
the search-party if anyone volunteers."

"Oh, some on us'll volunteer," said one of the men. "I don't feel like
going home to my supper and bed--to can't eat, and to can't sleep for
thinking of those two merry lads as I've often gone out to fish with and
shared their dinner with 'em. Not me. I'll volunteer."

"Same here, my lads," said Vores; "I'm with you. That's two of us.
Anyone else say the word?"

"Ay!--ay!--ay!" Quite a chorus of `ays' broke out as the miners
volunteered to a man.

"Well done," cried Vores, "that's hearty; I feel just as if I'd had a
good meal, and was fresh as a daisy. But we can't all stay. Sam
Hardock, how many do you want to help carry the guv'nor back?"

"Three twos," said Hardock, "for I'm no use yet. I can only just carry
myself."

"That's seven then, so pick your men and we'll stay, five of us, and
find the lads somehow."

"I say that Harry Vores leads us," said the man who had first
volunteered.

"Hear, hear!" was chorused, and a few minutes only elapsed before
Hardock had chosen his party and turned to raise the Colonel, to go
back.

"What's limpet-shells and sand doing down here?" said Vores, as he held
a lanthorn to light the men.

"Forsils," said Hardock, glancing at a couple Vores had picked up.

"Nay, they aren't stony shells," said Vores. "I kno