I say, Master Mark, wasn't I right ?" Mark made no reply, for he was lowering himself down over the edge, and directly after he dropped on to the crystals below.
"Show the light, Dummy," he whispered, and the boy lay face downward and swung 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 you come 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 you one 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 know your voice; I could not see your face; but if you know, tell me, for mercy's sake--my poor boy--was he killed ?" "No.