happier
with his old leather strap."

"I don't care; he shall have one of bronze."

He told Grip this when he reached the yard, and the dog rushed toward
them, standing on his hind-legs and straining against his collar at the
full extent of his chain till he was unfastened, when he went half mad
with excitement till they were out of the grounds and on their way
toward the mine. Then as he trotted on before them straight for the
buildings they heard the panting of the engine, and came in sight of the
smoke.

For the pump was steadily at work again, clearing out the water which
had begun to gather, consequent upon the enforced inaction.

Sam Hardock caught sight of them before they reached the mine, and came
to meet them, smiling largely.

"How are you, gentlemen?--how are you?" he cried. "Not much the worse,
then, from your trip underground?"

"Oh, no, Sam, we're right enough," said Gwyn; "but I say, I can't
understand about our only being in the mine two days. It seemed to me
like a week."

"Fortnight," said Joe, correcting him.

"Well, fortnight, then."

"Ay, it would," said Hardock, looking serious now. "I mind being shut
up in one of the Truro mines by a fall; and we were only there about
thirty hours, but it seemed to me just like thirty days."

"But hasn't there been a mistake? We must have been there more than
forty-eight hours."

"No, my lad; that was the time, and quite long enough, too; but I'm
afraid it would have been twice as long if it hadn't been for this dog.
It was a fine idea to send him down to try and find you."

"A splendid idea! Who's was it?"

"Oh, never mind about that," said Hardock, stooping down to pat the dog
in the most friendly way. "Someone said after we'd got back along of
your father, Mr Gwyn, that the dog was more likely to find you than
anyone; but just then the Colonel ordered a fresh search, and a party
went down, and then another, and another, for there was no stopping;
they hunted for you well. But at last him who proposed the dog said he
was sure that was the way to go to work; and then at last the Colonel
says, `Well, Hardock,' he says, `I believe you're right. Try the dog!'"

"Then it was you who proposed it," said Gwyn, catching the miner's arm.

"Me? Was it? Well, perhaps it was," said Hardock; "but lor' a mussy, I
was all in such a flurry over the business I don't half recollect. Sort
o' idee it was Harry Vores. Maybe it was."

"No, it wasn't,