The Black Tor Part 44

"Does rest your back and lynes, Master Mark, to lie like this for a bit.

You just try it."

There was no reply.

"D'you hear, Master Mark? You try it."

Still no response, and he turned his head, to see that his companion's chin was resting upon his chest.

"Sleep!" said Dummy, with a little laugh. "Can't stand being up all night like I can. Being on night-shifts, sometimes, I s'pose. Well, let him sleep for a few minutes, and then I'll wake him."

Then all was blank.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

JUST IN TIME.

All at once Dummy Rugg uttered a peculiar snort, and started up in a sitting position, with the thought still fresh in his brain that he must rouse up Mark from his nap.

But all was dark, and there was the gurgling rush of the water below.

"Why, I've been asleep," muttered the lad excitedly. "Think o' me doing that!"

He rose quickly, and felt for the crack in which he had stuck the candles, narrowly escaping a plunge into the little pool from which he had drunk.

He found the spot where the candles had been, both of them; he could feel it by the size, and knew it by the shape, for it grew smaller at each extremity, so that he had been able to wedge the ends of the candles tight.

Yes: there was no doubt about it. Both candles, as if to be in fashion with the stony drippings of the cavern, had run down a little, to form tiny stalagmites of grease.

"Burnt right out," muttered Dummy, still more excitedly. "Why, I may ha' been asleep for hours."

Thrusting his hand into his breast, there was a faint rattle as he drew out tinder-box and match, and then felt for a candle in the box he had carried slung by a strap from the shoulder, and laid it ready.

The next minute he was nicking a piece of flint against the steel, striking sparks down into the box, and at the second sharp click Mark started awake.

"Yes! What is it?" he cried--"Where am I?"

"On'y here, Master Mark," replied the boy. "Candle's gone out."

"Why, Dummy! Have we been to sleep?"

"I s'pose so, Master Mark. Po-o-o-o-f-f-uf! There we are!"

He had obtained a light, the match burning up brightly, and then the candle, after the fluffy wick had been burnt and blown.

"How tiresome! I don't know, though. I feel rested."

"Being up all last night, I s'pose," said Dummy, as he stuck the candle in the crack.

"Yes, of course; that's it. Think we've been asleep long?"

"I dunno. Fear'd so."

"Let's go back, then, at once," said Mark, springing to his feet. "Why, we may have been asleep for hours. Light another candle, and let's get back."

"Right, Master Mark. Well, it don't much matter, for we hadn't nothing to do."

The second candle was lit, and stuck in the rough wooden carrying-stick, the other was taken from the crack in the stone and treated the same.

"Won't go no furrer, then, Master Mark?" said the boy.

"No, not to-day," said Mark decisively, as he looked round the chamber, and then stooped to take a draught of the clear water, an example Dummy followed.

"Ready, Master Mark?"

"Yes, lead on. But which way?"

"Don't you know, sir?" said Dummy grinning.

"Haven't the least idea. Have you?"

"Yes, sir. This way. I know."

"But are you sure you are right?"

"Ay, this is right."

"Then you have been there before?"

"Nay, never; but I can feel that's right," and he pointed in the opposite direction to that which Mark felt they ought to take.

"Forward, then, and let's get out as quick as we can."

"Yes, but it'll take some time;" and the boy led on.

"Why, Dummy," cried Mark, suddenly, "we must have slept for hours and hours."

"How do you know, sir?"

"Why, I can feel."

"In your head, like, sir?" said Dummy eagerly.

"Head? No: somewhere else," cried Mark, laughing. "I am half-starved."

A good three hours must have elapsed before, after a weary climb and tramp, and when the last candle had been lit, the two lads emerged from behind the stony veil into the grotto-like place that had deceived Mark Eden.

"Don't matter about candles now, Master Mark," said Dummy; "I could find my way out ready enough by touching the wall with one hand."