ny a time."

"Eh, what?" faltered Tom. "Is that Harry speaking? Are you there,
mother? What's up? I don't quite know; my head feels queer--oh dear!"

He had tried to raise himself as he spoke, and had been checked by
agonising pain, which caused him to relapse into insensibility.

"How awful this is! I wish they'd make haste up there," thought Harry.
And then he turned, as the Manse boys had always been taught to turn in
trials, to Him who is near at all times, a present help in time of
trouble.

When Tom revived again, the first thing he heard was Harry Mitchell's
voice faltering forth prayers to God for His unfortunate comrade; and I
think that the childish antagonism which had so long existed between
those two died out just then. But now a great flare of light fell on
them, and the noise and talk overhead told that relief was coming.

"What does it all mean, Harry?" Tom asked feebly.

"You fell down here, and Yaspard is coming with a light and things to
help you out. Cheer up, Tom; we'll have you out and all right before
long."

Yaspard descended with an admirable torch in his hand, and the articles
Harry required strapped around him.

Great was our hero's joy to find Tom so much restored; and when they
had bathed his face, and made him drink some water, he was able to
speak collectedly. "I am hurt about the left shoulder," he said, when
they began to examine him, "and my head feels dreadful."

"There is a nasty cut on the brow," said Harry, "and a slight one
behind the ear. I won't move the clumsy bandage, though, till we get
him up, when it can be made more ship-shape. Now, Tom, you must let us
put you in the potatoe-bag and haul you out of this."

They were very deft and tender in their handling, and Tom bit his lips
to refrain from groaning over his acute pain; but for all that the job
was a tedious and trying one, and when he was lashed into the sack Tom
fainted again.

"I must go up with him," said Harry; "those duffers might do some harm."

He tested the rope, and, assured that it would bear a good weight, he
put an arm round Tom, and then, catching the rope with his other hand,
gave the signal.

Fortunately they had not to be raised very far, and it was accomplished
without any misadventure beyond the "skinning" of Harry's hand, which
he could not guard without leaving Tom's poor head unprotected.

As soon as Yaspard too was got out of that horrible hole, all haste was
made to reach