Sappers and Miners Part 11

"Yes. Now, Ydoll, old chap," whispered Joe, "can you do what he says and find foothold?"

There was a peculiar staring look in the boy's eyes, but he began to search about with his toes; and almost at once found a crack that he had pa.s.sed over before, forced in the end of one boot, and, reaching over, he gripped the rope with both hands.

"Get tight hold of my collar," he whispered rather faintly. "Can you do it kneeling?"

"No power," said Joe, huskily, "I must stand."

He rose to his feet, gripping the collar as he was told, gazing there into Gwyn's eyes, for he dared not look down beyond him into the dizzy depth.

"Now," said Gwyn, "when you're ready, I'll try and raise myself a bit, and you throw yourself back."

"Wait a moment," panted Joe. Then he shouted, "Now I am--all together!"

"Right! Hauley hoi!" came back, and with one effort Gwyn curved his body, forcing his breast clear of the edge, joined his strength to that of his comrade in the effort to rise, and the next moment Joe was on his back with Gwyn being dragged over him.

Then came an interval of inaction, for the three actors in the perilous scene lay p.r.o.ne upon the rough surface of the cliff, Hardock having thrown himself upon his face.

"Oh, Gwyn, old chap!--oh, Gwyn," groaned Joe.

"Hah! Yes; it was near," sighed the rescued boy, as he slowly rose to a sitting posture, and began to unfasten the rope. "I thought I was gone."

"It was horrid--horrid--horrid!" groaned Joe. "And I couldn't do anything."

He rose slowly, wiping his brow, which was dripping with perspiration, and the two boys sat there in the sunshine gazing at one another for a few minutes as if quite unconscious of the presence of Hardock at the end of the rope, where he lay spread-eagled among the heath.

Then Gwyn slowly held out his hand, which was gripped excitedly by Joe, who seized it with a loud sob.

"Thank ye, Jolly-wet," said Gwyn, quietly. "I felt so queer seeing you try so hard."

"You felt--about me? Ah, you don't know what I felt about you. Ugh! I could kick you! Frightening me twice over like that! I don't know which was worst--when you went down or when you came up."

"Going down was worst," said Gwyn, quietly. "But have a kick if you like; I don't feel as if I could hit back."

"Then I'll wait till you can," said Joe, with a faint smile. "Oh, dear, how my heart does keep on beating!"

He turned with hand pressing his side and looked toward Hardock, for the man had moved, and he, too, sat up and began searching in his pockets.

And then, to the great disgust of the two boys, they saw him slowly bring out a short pipe and a bra.s.s tobacco-box, and then deliberately fill the former, take out his matches, strike a light, and begin to smoke.

"Look at that," cried Joe, viciously.

"Yes; I'm looking," said Gwyn, slowly, and speaking as if he were utterly exhausted. "I feel as if I wish I were strong enough to go and knock him over."

"For laughing at us when we were in such a horrible fix? Yes; so do I.

He's an old beast; and when you feel better we'll go and tell him so."

"Let's go now," said Gwyn, rising stiffly. "I say, I feel wet and cold, and sore all over."

Joe rose with more alacrity and clenched his fists, his teeth showing a little between his tightened lips.

"Why, Jolly," said Gwyn, gravely, "you look as if you'd knocked the skin off your temper."

"That's just how I do feel," cried the boy--"regularly raw. I want to have a row with old Sammy Hardock. It's all his fault, our getting into such trouble; and first he stands there laughing at us when we were nearly gone, and now he sits there as if it hadn't mattered a bit, and begins to smoke. I never hated anyone that I know of, but I do hate him now. He's a beast."

"Well, you said that before," said Gwyn, slowly; and he shivered. "I say, Jolly, isn't it rum that when you're wet, if you stand in the sun, you feel cold?"

"Then let's go and give it to old Hardock; that'll warm you up. I feel red hot now."

Gwyn began to rub his chest softly, where the rope had cut into him, and the boys walked together to where Hardock sat with his back to them, smoking.

The man did not hear them coming till they were close to him, when he started round suddenly, and faced them, letting the pipe drop from between his lips.

The resentment bubbling up in both of the boys died out on the instant, as they saw the drawn, ghastly face before them.

"Ah, my lads! Ah, my dear lads!" groaned the man; "that's about the nighest thing I ever see; but, thank goodness, you're all safe and sound. Would you two mind shaking hands?"

The boys stared at him, then at each other and back.

"Why, Sam!" said Gwyn, huskily.

"Yes; it's me, my lad," he replied, with a groan, "what there is left on me. I've been trying a pipe, but it aren't done me no good, not a bit.

I seem to see young Jollivet there going head first over the cliff; and the mortal shiver it did send through me was something as I never felt afore."

"Why, you laughed at us!" said Joe, with his resentment flashing up again.

"Laughed at yer? Course I did. What was I to do? If I'd ha' told yer both you was in danger, wouldn't it ha' frightened you so as you'd ha'

been too froze up to help yourselves?"

"No; I don't think so," cried Joe.

"Don't yer? Well, I'm sure on it. I couldn't do anything but hold on to the rope, and no one could ha' saved you but yourselves."

"But you shouldn't have laughed," said Gwyn, gravely.

"What was I to do then, Colonel? It was the only thing likely to spur you up. I thought it would make you both wild like, and think you warn't in such a queer strait, and it did."

The boys exchanged glances.

"Yes," continued Hardock, as he shook hands solemnly with both, "there was n.o.body to help you, my lads, but yourselves, and I made you do that; but talk about giving a man a turn--Oh, dear! oh, dear! And now my pipe's gone right out."

"Light it again, then, Sam," said Gwyn, quietly, as he stooped stiffly to pick up the fallen pipe, and hand it to its owner.

"Thank ye, my lad, thank ye; but I don't feel in the humour for no pipes to-day, I'm just as if I've had a very gashly turn."

"But you might have tied the rope round me better, Sam," said Gwyn.

"Ay, I might, my lad, but somehow I didn't. Are you hurt much?"

"Only sore, with the rope cutting me."