Mr. Gubbins, who formed one of the party.

"I am afraid, sir, they are mining again; lying on the ground, we think we
can hear the sound of blows."

"That is bad," Mr. Gubbins said; "I heard this afternoon that they believe
that two mines are being driven from Johannes' house in the direction of
the Martiniere, and the brigade messhouse; now we are to have our turn,
eh? Well, we blew in the last they tried, and must do it again; but it is
so much more hard work. Now, gentlemen, let us see who has the best ears.
Excuse us, Mrs. Hargreaves, we shall not be long away."

On entering the battery they found the men on guard all lying down
listening, and were soon at full length with their ears to the ground. All
could hear the sound; it was very faint, as faint as the muffled tick of a
watch, sometimes beating at regular intervals of a second or so, sometimes
ceasing for a minute or two.

"There is no doubt they are mining," Mr. Gubbins said; "the question is,
from which way are they coming."

None could give an opinion. The sound was so faint, and seemed to come so
directly from below, that the ear could not discriminate in the slightest.

"At any rate," Mr. Gubbins said, "we must begin at once to sink a shaft.
If, when we get down a bit, we cannot judge as to the direction, we must
drive two or three listening galleries in different directions. But before
we begin we must let Major Anderson, of the Royal Engineers, know, and
take his advice; he is in command of all mining operations."