nothin'--except," with a touch of religious enthusiasm, "maybe 'tis
the bottomless pit, where auld Hornie dwells, as we are tauld in the
Screepture; noo let us gae up again, an' I'll show ye the puddlers
at wark."

Vandeloup had not the least idea what the puddlers were, but
desirous of learning, he followed his guide, who led him into
another gallery, which formed a kind of loop, and joined again with
the main drive. As Gaston stumbled along, he felt a touch on his
shoulder, and on turning, saw it was Pierre, who had been put to
work with the other men, and was acting as one of the runners.

"Ah! you are there, my friend," said Vandeloup, coolly, looking at
the uncouth figure before him by the feeble glimmer of his candle;
"work away, work away; it's not very pleasant, but at all events,"
in a rapid whisper, "it's better than New Caledonia."

Pierre nodded in a sullen manner, and went back to his work, while
Vandeloup hurried on to catch up to McIntosh, who was now far ahead.

"I wish," said this pleasant young man to himself, as he stumbled
along, "I wish that the mine would fall in and crush Pierre; he's
such a dead weight to be hanging round my neck; besides, he has such
a gaol-bird look about him that it's enough to make the police find
out where he came from; if they do, good-bye to wealth and
respectability."

He found Archie waiting for him at the entrance to the main drive,
and they soon arrived at the bottom of the shaft, got into the cage,
and at last reached the top of the earth again. Vandeloup drew a