Page:Allan Dunn--Dead Man's Gold.djvu/220

206. Regular terrace at the back. But I'm blowed hif I can see any 'ole to go in."

"It's there," said Stone. "Now, then, we want to send up our rifles, the dynamite and caps, pick and drills, some grub, and the electric torches."

"Why the rifles? asked Healy. "Think you're going to find game in there?"

"There's no sense in leaving them," said Stone, quietly. "We might need them. It's too bad we have to leave the burros outside. We don't know how cold it's going to be in there. We'll need some wood for fire and light. These torches ought to be saved for an emergency. How about blankets?"

"We'll be warm henough," said Larkin. "And we won't sleep none, I fancy. Git a move on."

They collected what they were to take up with them. Harvey was to be the last to mount and send up the stuff by the line. Larkin ascended first, stopping on the ledge to call directions down to Healy who made a slow job of it, though he managed to use his injured arm sufficiently to help himself considerably. The rope was strong and able to bear double weight and Stone backed Healy, who could only clutch the line with one hand. At the first ledge he was exhausted but determined to go on, with a dogged persistence that they could not but admire.

"Let Stone come hup wiv me," said Larkin, exasperated at the snail's pace. "We'll make a loop at the end of the line for you to stand in and the two of us can 'aul you. You needn't be hafraid we'll