CHAPTER THIRTY.
NEARING DAWN.
The two lads stood there motionless for a time, wondering what thelantern-bearer could be doing, for he evidently had no suspicion of hisbeing watched. Then as they saw that in place of gleaming over thewater, the lantern was once more in motion, they crouched down, withtheir eyes alone over the edge of the clean-cut chasm, feeling thatwhoever it was must pass just beneath them, when they would be able tosee which way he went, and so gain a clue to the robbers' hold.
The light came nearer, and it was plain that whoever bore it was comingvery slowly, but they grasped the reason directly, for he was passingover a flooring of slippery crystals, and as he came on they could hearhim breathing hard.
As they had anticipated, he came very close beneath them, and Mark feltthat if he looked up they would be seen. But he whom they watchedwalked stooping, and letting the light fall upon the glitteringascending floor, so that at last he was not six feet below them, andMark said in a quick whisper: "Sir Morton!"
"Great Heavens!" came back in company with a sharp crash, as of anearthenware pitcher falling in shivers upon the rocky floor.
"Hush!"
"Who is it?"
"Friends," whispered Mark.
"Thank Heaven! At last--at last," came up, with a piteous groan, andthey heard a heavy fall.
"Quick, Dummy," whispered Mark. "We must go down to him."
"Listen first," said the boy: "p'r'aps some one heard."
But as he spoke there was the sound of a hoarse laugh from a longdistance off, and Dummy whispered: "Didn't hear. Been to fetch water,and broke the pitcher. I say, Master Mark, wasn't I right?"
Mark made no reply, for he was lowering himself down over the edge, anddirectly after he dropped on to the crystals below.
"Show the light, Dummy," he whispered, and the boy lay face downward andswung the lantern down as far as he could reach.
As Mark touched the fallen man's hand he began to recover consciousness.
"Not a dream--not a dream," he murmured. "Whoever you are, have youcome to help?"
"Yes; but hush! Purlrose and his men--are they near?"
"Too far to hear us speak; but hide your lights. Now tell me, are youone of those who attacked these wretches?"
"Yes; and we have reached you at last."
"Ah!" sighed the prisoner. "It was time--it was time. I don't knowyour voice; I could not see your face; but if you know, tell me, formercy's sake--my poor boy--was he killed?"
"No. Badly wounded, but alive, and he will live."
Mark heard the prostrate man muttering, and felt the hand he graspedtrembling violently.
"It puts life into me," he whispered, "when I was nearly spent. Tellme--pray tell me--where is my boy! Not a prisoner?"
"No: safe with us, at the Black Tor."
"Safe--at the Black Tor!" faltered Sir Morton. "Then you are an Eden?"
"Of course: and my father is close by here with a dozen stout men topunish these villains and save you, and--you do not say anything aboutyour child."
There was no reply, and Mark pressed the hand he held, to find thatthere was no response, and that it was turning wet and cold, for theunfortunate prisoner had been unable to bear the tidings, and hadswooned away.
"Go back," whispered Mark, "and tell my father whom we have found."
"Leave the light?" said the boy.
"No, take it. Tell him all you have heard."
The light glided away, and the next minute a faint sigh told that SirMorton was regaining his senses, his complete recovery thereof beingannounced by a trembling pressure of the hand.
"Weak," he whispered. "I was badly wounded. So Heaven has sent mygreatest enemy to save us."
"Us?" cried Mark excitedly. "Then Ralph Darley's sister is safe."
"Will be, I pray," said Sir Morton feebly. "I, her father, can do nomore."
Sir Edward came up, in company with Dan Rugg and five men, approachingcautiously with one lantern; and they were in the act of descending toMark and the prisoner when a hoarse bullying voice was heard from adistance, the words echoing and reverberating as along a vaultedpassage.
"Now then, back to your den, old fool. Don't be a week fetching thatwater."
"I--I am going back," cried Sir Morton, and then in a whisper--"thelight--the light. I will soon return."
He caught at the lantern, and began to move off painfully, while hiswould-be rescuers stood watching till the light disappeared round acorner, and a minute later the same harsh voice was heard speakingfiercely. Then all was still.
"Hah!" whispered Sir Edward, "at last. Keep all lights covered, Rugg,and go and bring up the rest of the men."
Dan grunted, and they heard his steps as they stood listening. Twiceover there came the hoarse sound of laughter, but Sir Morton did notreturn, and Sir Edward in his impatience was about to order a movementforward, now that all his men were at hand, when from out of the blackdarkness, close by where Mark stood listening with every nerve upon thestrain, the lad heard a slight rustling, then a faint panting sound asof hasty breathing, and a low voice whispered: "Is any one there?Please speak."
"Yes, yes," whispered Mark, and he stepped forward quickly withoutstretching hands, which came in contact with one as cold as ice.
"Oh!" gasped its owner, as another hand felt for him and clung to him."I know your voice, Mark Eden. I am Minnie Darley: pray, pray come andhelp my father; he is too weak to come back to you."
The voice trailed off into a wail.
"Hush! Don't, pray don't cry," whispered Mark. "Can you guide us towhere your father is?"
"Yes; oh yes."
"In the darkness?"
"Yes, I can find my way."
"Can you lead us, my child, to where these ruffians are?" said SirEdward, who had approached. "We must surprise and make them prisonersfirst."
"Yes--no, you will kill them," whispered the girl. "It is tootreacherous and dreadful."
"My child," said Sir Edward gently, and he stretched his hand forwardtill he could touch the girl's head, upon which he softly laid his hand;"I have a girl as young and fair as you, and Heaven forbid that sheshould ever be called upon to perform such an act. But think: it is tosave your father's life; to save you from the hands of these treacherousruffians. You must be our guide."
There was a dead silence for a few moments, and Sir Edward felt his handtaken and held to two soft lips.
"Yes," came gently; "it is to save my poor father. He will die in thisterrible place; and I must die too. You do not know, and they wouldeasily kill you if you went without. Yes, I will guide you to wherethey are. I feel that I must."