often they wished that their father, sister, and cousin could but join them; or rather, as Ned said, they could join the party without, for no one could wish that any they loved should be at Lucknow at that time.
One evening late they were sitting together in a group outside the house, the enemy's fire being slack, when Mr. Johnson came up from the battery to 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 Martinière and the brigade mess-house; now we are at 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
