ith one hand."

"Well, make haste and let's get out; I don't want to be in fresh trouble
through stopping so long. I believe it's supper-time."

"Yes, Master Mark," replied the boy, "and so do I."

They had still a long way to go, but once past the veil of stalactite,
they began to enter the workings with the passages and chambers
possessing fairly level floors, made for the convenience of transporting
the ore to the mouth of the mine. The walking then became comparatively
easy, but Mark's weariness was on the increase, and there were moments
when the faint glow of light which spread around Dummy, as he walked in
front, grew misty and strange, playing fantastic tricks to the
observer's eye: now it seemed close to him; now it and the black
silhouette it formed of the bearer's body appeared to be far-off, and to
die away in the distance, but only to return again with a sudden jerk,
as Mark started and tried to step out more firmly.

At these moments, his own candle having burned out, Mark watched the
shadow of his companion dancing about, now on the floor, now on the
ceiling or on either side, looking grotesque and goblin-like for a few
moments, and then dying out again and causing the lad to start, as he
felt in a dreamy way that he was being left behind, though on recovering
his fleeting senses it was only to find that Dummy was almost within
touch.

This had been going on for some time, when Mark spoke:

"I say, don't go right away and leave me, Dummy."

"Who's a-going to?" said the boy, looking round in surprise.

"I know you wouldn't on purpose, but keep looking round. I can't keep
awake. My legs do, but all the rest goes to sleep, and I begin getting
in a muddle."

"Oh, we shall soon be out now," said the boy laughing.

"Soon be out! I never knew the place was so big before. Keep looking
back to see that I don't drop down fast asleep."

"I'd make you go first," said Dummy, "but you don't know the way."

"No: keep on as you are, and make haste."

"Can't: must go steady, because of the candle."

"Oh dear!" sighed Mark. "I am so sleepy, and it's beginning to get down
below my belt, to where my leg was hurt."

"No, no, don't you think that," cried Dummy. "Let's keep on talking."

"Yes," said Mark, jumping at the proposal. "Let's keep talking--Who are
you laughing at?"

"You, Master Mark. You are sleepy. 'Tarn't far, now. Fresh air'll
soon rouse you."

There was no reply, and as the boy