ast match was heard to tinkle in
the silver box.

"Got him!" said Dickenson audibly as he talked to himself. "Now then,
ready with the lantern?" he said aloud.

"Yes, sir."

"Give me elbow-room, all of you."

There was the sound of men shrinking back.

"Now then," said Dickenson, "here goes! I hope the head won't come off
this time."

_Fuzz_! and directly after _fuzz_! but no light followed the rubbing of
the match.

"Why, it has got no head," cried the striker in dismay, and at this
announcement the men uttered a groan. "All right," cried Dickenson
cheerily. "I was rubbing its tail instead of the head."

_Cr-r-r-r-r-r-ch_! went the match; there was a burst of flame, followed
at a trifling interval by the steady glow of the tiny taper, and the
young officer's fingers were lit up and seen to bear the flame to the
lantern lamp, which caught at once and blazed up, when the door was shut
with a click, and the men exhaled their pent-up breath in a hearty
cheer.

"Well done!" said Captain Roby. "Here, I'll lead now; or would you like
to continue what you began, Mr Lennox?"

The latter looked at him, and seemed to hesitate.

"Oh, very well," said Roby rather contemptuously. "I'll lead myself."

"No, no; you misunderstood me," cried Lennox as Dickenson turned upon
him wonderingly. "I want to go on."

"I don't want to rob you of your chance," said Roby.--"Here, Mr
Dickenson, what two men went back to fetch those lights?"

"Corporal May and Channings tried to feel their way, sir, but they found
the job hopeless."

"But I gave orders."

"Yes, sir," said Dickenson; "but they could not find their way."

"I'll speak about this later on," said Roby. "Now then, Mr Lennox, are
you ready?"

"Yes, sir," was the reply as the young officer stood waiting for
Sergeant James, who had slipped off his scarf, passed it through the
handle of the lantern, and was securing it to his waist.

"Then forward!" cried Roby.

"Better let me lead, sir, on account of the light," half-whispered the
sergeant; "then you can be ready to give point at any one who comes at
me."

"No," said Lennox firmly; "I must lead. Leave your rifle, and follow
me, bayonet in hand."

He stepped to the mouth of the pit, tried the ladder-like contrivance,
found it fairly firm, and began to descend as fast as he could; while,
risking the strength of the wood, the sergeant stepped on as soon as
there was room and followed, shedding the dancing