"To be sure. Yes, I couldn't quite make it out," said the Colonel, coolly, as he turned away; but Gwyn noticed that he took out his handkerchief to pass it over his forehead, and then wiped the insides of his hands as if they were damp.

"Let's go back by the road," said the Colonel, after shading his eyes and taking a look round; "but I want to pass the mouth of the mine."

Upon reaching the latter, the Colonel drew a hammer from his pocket, and after routing out a few grey pieces of stone from where they lay beneath the furze bushes, he cracked and chipped several, till one which looked red in the new cleavage, and was studded with little blackish-purple, glistening grains, took his fancy.

"Carry this home for me, Gwyn," he said. "I wonder whether that piece ever came out of the mine?"

"I think all that large sloping bank covered with bushes and brambles came out of the mine some time, father," said the boy. "It seems to have been all raised up round about the mouth there."

"Eh? You think so?"

"Yes, father; and as the pieces thrown out grew higher, they seem to have built up the mouth of the mine with big blocks to keep the stones from rolling in. I noticed that when I was being let down. The ferns have taken root in the joints. Lower down, fifteen or twenty feet, the hole seems to have been cut through the solid rock."

"Humph! you kept your eyes open, then?"

Crossing the wall where the lane ran along by the side of the Colonel's property, they turned homeward, and in a few minutes Gwyn caught sight of Joe Jollivet's cap gliding in and out among the furze bushes, as he made his way in the direction of his own house, apparently not intending to be seen. But a few hundred yards farther along the lane there was some one who evidently did intend to be seen, in the shape of Sam Hardock, who rose from where he was sitting on a grey-lichened block, and touched his hat.

"That's a nice specimen you've got there, Master Pendarve," he said, eyeing the block the boy carried.

"It's a very heavy one, Sam," replied Gwyn; and his father strode on, but stopped short and turned back frowning, unable, in spite of his annoyance, to restrain his curiosity.

"Here, you Hardock," he cried, tapping the block his son carried, with his cane. "What is it? What stone do you call that?"

"Quartz, sir," said the man, examining the piece, "and a very fine specimen."

"Eh? Good for breaking up to repair the roads with, eh?"

"No, sir; bad for that; soon go to powder. But it would be fine to crush and smelt."

"Eh? What for?"

"What for, sir?" said the man with a laugh; "why, that bit o' stone's half tin. I dunno where you got it, o' course; but if it came from the spoil bank of that old mine, it just proves what I thought."

"Tin? Are you sure?"

"Sure, sir? Yes," said the man, laughing. "I ought to know tin when I see it. If it comes out of the old Ydoll mine, you've only got to set men at work to go down and blast it out, sir, and in a very short time you'll be a rich man."

"Come along, Gwyn," said the Colonel, hastily; "it's time we got back. Hang the fellow!" he muttered, "he has given me the mining fever, and badly, too, I fear."



CHAPTER NINE.

DOCTOR JOE.

"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! What a life! what a state of misery to be in!"

"Shall I turn the pillow over, father?" said Joe to Major Jollivet, who was lying on the couch drawn before the window, so that he could have a good view of the sea.

"No," shouted the Major, whose face was contracted by pain; and he shivered as he spoke although his forehead was covered with perspiration. "Why do you want to worry me by turning the pillow?"

"Because it will be nice and cool on the other side."

"Get out. Be off with you directly, sir. Can't you see I'm shivering with cold? Oh, dear: who would have jungle fever?"

"I wouldn't father," said the boy; and in spite of the words just spoken, he softly thrust his arm under his father's neck, raised his head, and then turned and punched the pillow, smoothed it, and let the Major's head down again.

"How dah you, sir!" cried the sufferer, fiercely. "Did I not tell you, sir, that I did not want it done? Did I not order you to quit the room, sir? Am I not your superior officer, sir? And you dared to disobey me, sir, because I am on the sick list. How dah you, sir! How dah you, sir! If you were in a regiment, sir, it would mean court-martial, sir, and—Oh, dear me!"

"That's cooler and more comfortable, father, isn't it?" said Joe, calmly enough, and without seeming to pay the slightest attention to the fierce tirade of angry words directed against him.

"Yes," sighed the Major, "that's cooler and more comfortable; but," he cried, turning angry again and beginning to draw out and point his great fierce moustache with his long thin fingers, "I will not have you disobey my orders, sir. You're as bad as your poor mother used to be— taking command of the regiment, and dictating and disobeying me as if I were not fit to manage my own affairs. How dah you, sir, I say—how dah you!"

Joe leaned over his father in the most imperturbable way, screwed up his mouth as if he were whistling, and drew out the Major's clean handkerchief from his breast-pocket, shook it, and then gently dabbed the moist forehead.

"Don't! Leave off, sir!" roared the Major. "How dah you, sir! I will not be treated in this way as if I were a helpless infant. Joseph, you scoundrel, you shall leave home at once, and go to an army tutor. I will not have these mutinous ways in the house."

Joe smiled faintly, screwed up his lips a little more, turned the handkerchief, gave the forehead a light wipe over by way of a polish, and then lowered it.

"Want to blow your nose, dad?" he said.

"No, sir, I do not want to blow my nose; and if I did I could blow it myself. Oh, dear! Oh, dear. This pain—this pain!"

Joe thrust the handkerchief back, and laid his palm on his father's forehead.

"Not quite so hot, dad," he said.

"How dah you, sir! It's your rank mutinous obstinacy that makes you say so. Take away that nasty hot paw."

Joe went to the mantelpiece, took a large square bottle of eau-de-Cologne, removed the stopper, and once more drew out his father's pocket-handkerchief, moistened it with the scent, and softly applied it to the sufferer's forehead.

"Confound you!" cried the Major. "Will you leave me alone, sir, or am I to get up and fetch my cane to you?"

"What do they make eau-de-Cologne of, father?" said Joe, coolly. "Does it come from a spring like all those nasty mineral waters you take?"

"It's insufferable!" panted the Major.

"Time you had a drink, father," said Joe, quietly.

"It is not, sir. I take that medicine at eleven o'clock, military time. It wants quite half-an-hour to that yet. You want to be off to play with that idle young scoundrel of Pendarve's, I suppose; but I wish you to stay here till it is eleven. Do you hear that, sir? You disobey me if you dare."

"Five minutes past eleven now, dad," said Joe, after a glance at the clock over the chimney-piece.

"It's not, sir," cried the Major, turning his head quickly to look for himself, and then wincing from pain. "That clock's wrong. It's a wretched cheap fraud, and never did keep time. Fast! Nearly an hour fast!"

"Said it was the best timekeeper in Cornwall only yesterday," said Joe to himself, as he went to a side table on which stood a couple of bottles, a glass, and water-jug.

Here the boy busied himself for a few moments, with his father frowning and watching him angrily, and looking, in spite of his pain-distorted countenance, pallid look and sunken cheeks, a fine, handsome, middle-aged man.

The next minute Joe was coming back with a tumbler in his hand, and stirring it with a little glass rod.

"Here you are, dad. Shall I hoist you up while you tip it off?"

"No, sir; I can sit up. How much quinine did you put in?"

"Usual dose, father."

"Ho! How much lemon juice?"

"Wineglass full, and filled up with spring water."

Major Jollivet made an effort to sit up, but sank back again with a groan.

Joe might have smiled, but he did not. He could justly have said triumphantly: "There, I knew you could not manage it!" but he calmly drew a chair to the side of the couch, stood the glass within reach of his father's hand, and then went behind his head, forced his arm under the pillow, lowered his brow so that he could butt like a ram, and slowly and steadily raised the invalid's shoulders, keeping him upright till the draught had been taken and the glass set down.

"Bah! Horrible! Bitter as gall."

"Lower away!" said Joe; and he drew softly back till the pillow was in its old place, and the Major uttered a sigh of relief.

"I say, dad, you're getting better," said Joe, as he took away chair and glass after brushing his disordered hair from his forehead.

"How dah you, sir!" cried the Major, "when I'm in such a state of prostration!"

Joe laid his hand on the patient's forehead again, and nodded.

"Head's getting wet and cool, dad. You'll be right as a trivet again soon."

"Worse than your poor mother—worse than your poor mother. You haven't a bit of feeling, boy. It's abominable."

Joe took a sprayer, thrust it into the neck of the scent bottle, and blew an odorous vapour about the sufferer's head.

"Will you put that tomfool thing away, sir! You're never happy unless you're playing with it."

"I say," cried Joe, still without seeming to pay the slightest heed to his father's words—"what do you think, dad?"

"Think, sir? How can I think of anything but this wretched jungle fever. Oh, my bones, my bones!"

"Colonel Pendarve's going to open the old Ydoll mine."

"Eh? What?" cried the Major, turning his head sharply. "Say that again."

"Captain Hardock got talking to me and Gwyn about it, and Gwyn told his father."

"Told him what?"

"Sam Hardock said he was sure that there was plenty of tin in it, and that it was a pity for it to be there, and when the Colonel might make a fortune out of it."

"And—and what did Pendarve say?" cried the Major, excitedly.

"Said it was all nonsense, I believe. Then Sam Hardock took me—me and Gwyn—to have a look, and Ydoll went down."

"Look here, sir, I will not have you call Gwyn Pendarve by that idiotic nickname."

"No, father. When he was half down the rope came undone, and he went down plash."

"Killed?" cried the Major, excitedly.

"Oh, no, father, there was plenty of water, and he got out through a passage on to the cliffs, and Sam and I had to pull him up again."

"What mad recklessness!"

"He wasn't hurt, father, only got very wet; and since then the Colonel has been to have a look at the place and had a talk or two with Sam Hardock, and Ydoll—"

"What!" cried the Major, fiercely.

"Gwyn thinks his father is going to have machinery down, and the mine pumped out."

"Madness! Going to throw all his money away. He sha'n't do it. I won't have it. What does Mrs Pendarve say?"

"Gwyn says she doesn't like it at all."

"I should think not, sir. It means ruin spelt with a big letter. Why can't he be contented with his half-pay?"

"I dunno, father. I suppose he feels as if he'd like more."

"Yes, and get less. You never knew me tempted by these wretched mining schemes, did you, sir?"

"No, father."

"The man's mad. Got a bee in his bonnet. Going to ruin his son's prospects in life. He sha'n't do it. How can he be so absurd! I'll go to him as soon as I can move."

"Feel a little easier, father?" said Joe, going to the head of the couch, and pressing his hand upon his father's brow again.

"Yes, much easier, my boy," said the invalid, placing his hand upon his son's, and holding it down for a few moments. "Feels cooler, doesn't it?"

"Ever so much, dad, and not so damp."

"Yes, I feel like a new man again. Thank you, Joe—thank you, my boy. Haven't been fretful, have I?"

"Oh, just a little, father, of course. Who could help it?"

"I was afraid I had been, Joe. But, as you say, who could help it? Didn't say anything very cross to you, did I?"

"Oh, no, nothing to signify, dad. But, I say, I am glad you're better."

"Thank you, my boy, thank you," said the Major, drawing his boy's hand down to his lips and kissing it. "Just like your poor, dear mother, so calm and patient with me when I am suffering. Joe, my boy, you will have to be a doctor."

"I? Oh, no, father. I must be a soldier, same as you've been, and Gwyn is going to be."

"But I meant a military surgeon," said the Major.

"Wouldn't do, father. Why, if I were to tell Ydoll—I mean Gwyn—that I was going to be a doctor, he would crow over me horribly, and I should never hear the end of it. He'd christen me jalap or rhubarb, or something of that sort."

"Ah, well, we shall see, and—who's that coming up to the door?"

Joe looked out from the window, and came back directly.

"The Colonel, dad. Shall I go and let him in?"

"Yes, fetch him in, and stop here and give me a hint now and then if I get a little irritable. What you have told me makes me feel rather cross, and I shall have to give him a bit of my mind. I can't let him go and waste his money like that."

Joe hurried out to the front hall, and found that Gwyn had accompanied his father, the former having been hidden by the shrubs as they came up to the door.



CHAPTER TEN.

FINDING AN INTRUDER.

"Well, old man; on the sick list?" began the Colonel, shaking hands warmly with his friend. "What's the last bulletin?"

"Bad, bad," said the Major, sharply. "Just heard that a man I respected is going to make a fool of himself."

"Eh? What?" said the Colonel, flushing. "Who's been chattering about— ahem! Are you alluding to the mine on my property, Major Jollivet?"

"No, sir," said the Major, sitting up, "I was speaking about the hole by the cliff that was dug by a pack of greedy noodles who were not satisfied with their incomes, and I felt that I should not like to see an old friend of mine go shovelling his money down into it, and breaking his wife's heart."

"Then it was like your—ahem, ahem!" coughed the Colonel, checking himself. "No, no; don't go away, boys," for Gwyn was stealing out, followed by Joe.

"No, don't you boys go," cried the Major; "it will be a lesson for you both."

"Father been very bad, Joe?" said the Colonel.

"Very bad, indeed, sir," said the boy.

"Silence, sir!" cried the Major. "Nothing of the sort. Don't exaggerate, Joe."

"No, father."

"He doesn't, Dick. You've had a nasty touch this morning, or you wouldn't have spoken to me like that."

"I couldn't help it, old man," said the Major, warmly. "But surely you will never be so mad as to go pumping out that old place."

"H'm! I don't know about mad. Be useful to make a little money for the sake of the boy."

"Very bad to lose a great deal for the sake of the boy."

"Nothing venture, nothing win, Dick. I'm beginning to think that it would be worth while to put some money in the venture, and I came up this morning to make you the first offer of joining in."

"And throwing away my bit of money, too. No, sir, not if I know it. I'm not quite such an idiot as that."

"You mean as I am," said the Colonel, quietly.

"I did not say so," retorted the Major. "I should not dream of insulting an old friend by using such language."

"No, but you would think it all the same," cried the Colonel. "Now, look here, Jollivet; you and I have enough to live upon comfortably."

"Quite."

"But there's nothing left to start these two young dogs well in life; now is there?"

"Well—er—rum—er—no; there is not much, Pendarve, certainly."

"That's what I have been thinking, and though the idle, reckless young dogs do not deserve it—do you hear, you two? I say you don't deserve it."

"Joe doesn't," said Gwyn, with a mischievous grin at his companion.

"No, not at all," said Joe. "I'm nearly as bad as Gwyn."

"Ah, you're a nice pair," said the Colonel. "But we, as fathers, must, I suppose, give you both a good preparation for the army—eh, Jollivet?"

"Yes, of course that must be done," said the Major.

"Exactly! Well, I've been thinking a great deal about it this last day or two, and I have quite come to the conclusion that I must do something."

"Well, do something," said the Major, testily; "don't go and fling your money down a mine."

"But there are mines and mines, Jollivet, old fellow. If I were asked to join in some company to buy a mine or open a new one, I should of course hesitate; but in this case I have one of my own, one that is undoubtedly very ancient, and must have had a great deal of tin or copper or both in it."

"No doubt, and it was all dug out and sold long enough ago. The old people had the oyster, and you've got the shell."

"I don't know so much about that, sir," said the Colonel, earnestly. "I brought home a piece of old ore that was dug out, and it's very rich in tin. There's plenty of room down below for there to be an enormous amount, and as the only outlay will be for machinery for pumping and raising the ore, I have made up my mind to start a company of the owners to work that mine."

"And lose all your money."

"I hope not. The mine is already sunk, and I believe when it is pumped dry we shall find that there are drifts with plenty of ore in them, waiting to be worked—plenty to pay well for the getting."

"And if there turns out to be none at all?"

"Well, that's the very worst way of looking at it. If it turns out as bad as that, I shall have spent so many hundred pounds in new pumping machinery, and have it to sell for what it will fetch to some fresh company."

"But you would only get half the value."

"If I got half the value, I should be satisfied. Then the loss would not be so very severe."

"Severe enough to make you repent it to the last day of your life," said the Major, shortly.

"I hope not. Money is not worth so much repentance."

"But you talk as if you really meant to do this, Pendarve," said the Major, warmly.

"I do. I have quite made up my mind."

Gwyn looked at his father, with his eyes flashing with excitement.

"My dear Pendarve, I implore you not to do so for that boy's sake," cried the Major.

"It is for his sake I am going to venture upon what seems to me a very safe piece of business."

"No, no; a wild-goose chase, sir."

"Mining is not so reckless as that, if carried out on business principles, my dear Jollivet."

"There, we shall never agree. But in the name of all that is sensible, why did you come to me?"

"Partly because you are my oldest friend, and one in whom I should confide any important business."

"And partly," cried the Major, warmly, "because you thought I should be weak enough to join you."

"Quite right, all but the question of weakness," said the Colonel.

"Absurd! There, I am obliged to speak plainly; I could never dream of such a thing."

"I don't want you to dream," said the Colonel, smiling; "I want you to act—to join me; and upon this basis: I will find the mine, and half the money for the machinery, if you will find the other half."

"It would be folly. Look at the money we know to have been lost on mines."

"Yes, in companies, and over very doubtful affairs. In this case we have the proof of mining having been carried on. We have the mine, and we should not have to share profits with a number of shareholders."

"Nor losses neither," said the Major, testily.

"Nor the losses neither," assented the Colonel. "Then we live on the spot and could oversee matters."

"Bah! What do we know about mines? I could manage a regiment, not a hole underground."

"We could soon learn, my dear boy," said the Colonel; "and it would be very interesting to have such an occupation. I have felt for years past that you and I have been wasting time. No occupation whatever, nothing to do but think about our ailments. It's rusting, Jollivet—it's rusting out; and I'm sure that if we both worked hard, we should be healthier and better men."

"Humph! Well, there is something in that. But, no, no, no, I'm not going to be tempted to spend money that ought some day to come to Joe."

"Oh, I don't mind, father, if it's going to do you good," cried the boy, eagerly. "I should like for you to have a mine."

"Shall I have any money some day, father?" said Gwyn.

"I suppose so, my boy, what I leave when I die," said the Colonel, frowning.

"Oh, then, I'll give it to go into the mine, father," cried Gwyn; and the stern look passed off the Colonel's face. He nodded, and looked pleased.

"Think of the anxiety that such a venture would bring," said the Major.

"I have thought of it, and also of the anxieties and worries which come to a man who has nothing to do. Look here, Jollivet, I firmly believe in this adventure, and I should very much like it if you would join me, for I feel that it would do you good, and that we should get on well together."

"Oh, yes, I've no doubt about that," said the Major, "and if you really do make up your mind to venture, I don't say that I will not lend you some money if you need it."

"Thank you, I know that you would, Jollivet; but I don't want to take it in that way. Think it over for a few days, and see how you feel about it."

"No, I can give you my answer now without any hesitation. It is quite out of the question, Pendarve. Even if it were a gold mine, I should say—"

"Don't decide rashly, old fellow," said the Colonel. "A few days ago I should have answered you in the same way, if you had come and proposed the thing; but since I have thought it over, I have quite changed my mind. Do the same, and let me hear how you have concluded to act at the end of a week."

"But I tell you, my dear sir—"

"Yes; tell me at the end of a week," said the Colonel, smiling. "What do you think of these fellows beginning to investigate the mine for themselves? There, Gwyn, you need not stay for me if you want a run with Joe: I'll walk home alone."

"Father is not well enough to be left," said Joe.

"Yes, yes, my boy," cried the Major; "I don't want to make a prisoner of you. Go and have a run with Gwyn, by all means."

The boys required no second permission, but were off at once, their fathers hearing the beat of their feet on the road directly after.

"Where have they gone?" said the Major, turning on his couch.

"Over to the mouth of the mine, for certain," said the Colonel.

He was quite right. There was no proposal made by either of the boys, but as soon as they were outside the gate, they started off together at a rapid trot, making straight for the Colonel's land, springing over the stone-wall, and threading their way amongst stones and bushes, till they were compelled by the rough ground to go more slowly.

"Makes one want to see more of what it's like," said Joe.

"Yes; I didn't know father was thinking about it so seriously. Why, it'll be splendid, Joe. I say; you'll have to go down the mine first this time."

"Yes, I suppose so, but not your way."

"Hist!" whispered Gwyn, as they drew near. "What does that mean?"

"What? I don't see anything."

Gwyn ducked down behind one of the great, grey weathered lumps of granite, and signed to his companion to follow his example.

This was done on the instant, and then Joe looked inquiringly in his face.

"Something wrong," whispered Gwyn. "Trespassers. Got to know that father means to work the mine."

Gwyn raised his head slowly, so as to peer over the block of granite, and plainly made out a hand and arm working about at the side of the low protection wall of the old mine.

"Sam Hardock," whispered Joe, who had followed his example. "What's he doing? Measuring the depth?"

"'Tisn't Sam," whispered Gwyn, "it's someone else—stranger, I think. Then the mine must be valuable or he wouldn't be there. What shall we do?"

"He has no business there. It's on your father's property, perhaps it'll be ours, too," whispered Joe. "I say, Ydoll, we're not going to stand that; let's go and collar him."

"Agreed!" said Gwyn, excitedly. "We've right on our side. Come on."



CHAPTER ELEVEN.

FIGHTING THE ENEMY.

Gwyn Pendarve's "Come on!" was loyally responded to by Joe Jollivet, and the two lads made a hurried charge down the slope at the interloper so busy about the old mine-shaft.

Now, if you take two dogs out for a walk in the country, unless they are particularly well-behaved, spiritless animals, as soon as they see sheep, cow, or bullock grazing, they will make a furious dash, and if the grazing creature runs, they will have a most enjoyable hunt. But if the quarry stands fast and makes a show of attacking in turn, the probabilities are that the dogs will slacken speed, stop short a few yards away, give vent to their opinions upon the unnatural behaviour of the animal in barks, lower their triumphantly waving tails, and come back at a gentle trot, stopping at times, though, to turn their heads and make a few more remarks in dog language.

Truth to tell, when Gwyn and Joe made their charge, they fully expected to see the man leaning over the old wall start off and run; but, as it happened, he did not, but stood up, turned, and faced them, looking a big, sour-faced, truculent fellow, who scowled at them and stood his ground.

Whatever their inclinations might have been for the moment, not being dogs, and each having his prestige to keep up in his companion's eyes, Gwyn and Joe certainly stopped; but they did not turn, but stood firm, noting that the man had a large reel of sea-fishing line evidently of goodly length.

"Hullo!" he said, hoarsely. "What's for you?"

"What are you doing here?" cried Gwyn.

"What's that to you?"

"Everything. Do you know you are trespassing?"

"No. Am I?"

"Yes, of course."

"Thank ye for telling me. Good-morning."

Gwyn stared, and then looked at Joe.

For, instead of going at once, the man turned his back and drew upon his line, whose end—evidently weighted—was hanging down the shaft; but instead of continuing to draw it out, he let it run down again rapidly from a reel.

"Here, stop that," cried Gwyn. "What are you doing?"

The man turned upon them, scowling.

"Hullo!" he said; "aren't you gone? What are you waiting for?"

"To know what you're doing on our property."

"Your property!" said the man, scornfully. "Can't you see what I'm doing? Fishing."

"Fishing?" cried Joe, who felt staggered, and began wondering whether there might be any underground communication with the sea, through which some of the huge eels of the rocky cove might have made their way.

"Yes, fishing," growled the man. "Don't make that row, because I've got one at me. Be off!"

"Nonsense!" cried Gwyn, sharply. "There are no fish there."

"How do you know, youngster?" said the man. "Ever tried?"

"No," replied Gwyn; "but I do know that there are no fish in a hole like that."

"Ho! You're precious cunning. But never you mind, my young sharpshooter. You be off while your shoes are good."

"How dare you order me to go!" cried Gwyn, flushing. "I told you this was my father's property."

"No, you didn't," said the man, after giving a glance round. "You said it was yours. Consequently you must be a liar, for you tells two tales. Now be off, and don't bother me."

Joe looked inquiringly at Gwyn, and the silent question meant, "Hadn't we better go and fetch your father?" But Gwyn felt upon his mettle, and he cried angrily,—

"No, it's you who'll have to be off. You're on private grounds, and it's all nonsense about fishing. I know what you are about."

"Oh, do you?" said the man, sneeringly, as he looked sidewise at the lad, but went on busily all the same with his long line. "Well, what am I about, young clever shaver, if I'm not fishing?"

"You're trespassing, as I told you; and whoever you are, you've no right to be doing that."

"Anybody's got a right to fish."

"Yes, in the sea, but not on private grounds; so now be off at once."

"And suppose I say I won't," said the man, menacingly.

"But you won't now you're told. Be off, please, at once; we can't have you doing that."

"Why, you're never going to interfere with a stranger who's trying to ketch a few podnoddles," said the man, grinning.

"No, but I will with a stranger who has come spying and measuring that mine; so be off at once, and no more nonsense."

"Let's fetch the Colonel," whispered Joe.

"Yah! go and fetch your grandmother," snarled the man. "Look here, both of you, I didn't interfere with you; don't you come interfering with me, my lads, because I'm one of the sort who turns ugly when he's meddled with."

Gwyn hesitated for a few moments, and then stepped close up, clapped his hand on the man's shoulder, and pointed toward the wall.

"Come!" he cried; "that's the way, and don't you come here again."

The man turned upon him with a wild-beast-like snarl.

"Do you want me to pitch you down that hole?" he cried.

"No, and you daren't do it," cried Gwyn, whose temper rose at this. "Now, then, will you go?"

For answer the man swung round fiercely, bringing his right arm across Gwyn's chest and sending him staggering back for a yard or two.

"Come on, Gwyn, let's fetch the Colonel."

Gwyn's blood was up. He felt not the slightest inclination to run for help, but, big as the man was, he sprang forward with such energy that, in his surprise, the fellow gave way for the moment, and Gwyn seized the opportunity to make a snatch at the great reel he held, wrenched it from his hand, and threw it to Joe, who caught it as cleverly as if it had been a cricket ball.

"Run round the other side, Joe, and drag it out. Run off with it. Never mind me."

Joe obeyed on the instant, and, making for the other side, he dashed off up the side of the gully, dragging the line after him, and was some yards away before the man recovered from his surprise.

"Oh, that's your game, is it?" he cried savagely. "I'll 'tend to you directly, my lad," and he made to pass Gwyn, who tried to stop him, but received a thrust which sent him backward on the heath, while the man started to follow Joe.

But Gwyn's life on the rocky coast had made him as active as a cat, and as the fellow was passing he thrust out one leg, tripped him, and his adversary went down with a crash, while, before he could rise, Gwyn was upon him trying to hold him down.

The boy was strong for his years, and, gripping his adversary by the collar with both hands, he drove his knees into the man's ribs, and held on. For some moments the advantage of position was on his side, but it was like trying to ride a mad bull. For the man heaved and twisted, and Gwyn had hard work to maintain his place as long as he did. This was till the man gave a tremendous writhe, sending his rider over sidewise, and then dashing after Joe, who was running as hard as he could go, trailing the line after him.

Joe had a good start, and the advantage of being light and accustomed to make his way among the heath and stones; but he soon found that the weight at the end of the line kept on catching in the rough growth; and as he tore on, he saw that the fierce-looking fellow was in full pursuit. If he had dropped the line, he could easily have got away, but Gwyn had thrown that reel to him, and told him to run with it; and setting his teeth he ran on, jerking the weight free again and again, till all at once in one of the bounds it made after a heavy drag, it struck against a small post-like piece of granite which stuck up out of the ground, swung round and clasped it, as the bolas of a South-American Indian twine round the legs of a running animal, and the sudden jerk threw the boy down.

He was up again directly, and turned to run and untwist the line, but it was only to rush into the man's arms, and be thrown, when with a foot upon his chest the fellow began to try and tear the line from his hands.

But Joe's blood was up now, and he held on with all his might, turning himself over so as to get the reel beneath his chest.

"Gwyn! Gwyn! Help!" he shouted.

"All right!" came from behind him, and his comrade, who had been in pursuit, pitched heavily on to the man's back, when a trio in struggling commenced, the boys holding on with stubborn determination, and their enemy beginning to strike out savagely with fist and elbow.

It was only a question of minutes, and then the boys would have been completely mastered. In fact, it had reached the pitch when the man had them both at his mercy and was kneeling between them, holding each by the throat, and forcing them back on the heather, when there was a loud whistle, the sound of a heavy blow, and the fellow uttered a savage yell as he sprang up and turned upon a fresh adversary. But whish! crash! the sounds were repeated, followed by a savage shout, and the man beat a retreat.

For Colonel Pendarve had come panting up at the sight of the struggle, and, bringing to bear his old cavalry officer's skill, delivered three slashing sabre cuts with his heavy cane, the first from the right, the second from the left shoulder, putting the enemy thoroughly to rout. For the man left the trophies of the fight in the boys' hands, made for the road, and disappeared over the wall.



CHAPTER TWELVE.

THE MAJOR HAS STRANGE SYMPTOMS.

"Whatever is the meaning of all this?" panted the Colonel, as Major Jollivet came up more slowly, looking weak and pale, but urged on by his excitement, to their side.

Gwyn blurted out something incoherent, for he was too much exhausted to speak plainly, and stared confusedly at his father.

"What?" cried the latter; "I can't understand you. Here, Joe Jollivet, what have you to say?"

"Blurr—blurr—bline!" babbled Joe.

"Splendid cuts, Pendarve. The grand old form," panted Major Jollivet. "You—you—you—sent—sent—the blood—der—der—dancing through—in—my veins."

"Yes, I flatter myself, he had them home," said the Colonel, smiling with satisfaction. "Regular old pursuing practice. Lucky for him it was not the steel. But what is it all about? Who is the fellow? Was he trying to rob you?"

"No—you, father," stuttered Gwyn. "C-caught him—mum—measuring the mine. Took away—his line."

"What? You boys did?"

Joe nodded, still too breathless to speak, and not feeling disposed to utter incoherent sounds again.

"Yes—father—Joe's got it."

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the Colonel. "It seems to me that you've both got it. Do you know that your nose is bleeding, sir?"

Gwyn gave that organ the aboriginal wipe, drawing the back of his hand across his face, looked at it and saw that it was covered with blood.

"No—didn't know, father," he said, taking out his handkerchief now. "Yes, it does bleed."

"Bleed, yes! Why, you have had a regular fight, then?"

"Running fight, seemingly," said the Major, grimly. "Tut—tut—tut! What a disreputable pair of young blackguards they look."

"Never mind," said the Colonel, suavely. "They did quite right to attack the enemy, even if he was in greater force. But I don't quite understand it, Gwyn. Did he say he was measuring the mine?"

"No, father; but we saw him doing it."

"But how could he know anything about it? The man was a stranger to me."

"I never saw him before, father?"

"Humph!" ejaculated the Colonel, turning to the Major, "I'm glad I brought you out to have a look. Pretty good proof that someone believes the old mine to be valuable, eh?"

"Yes, or a trick to make it seem so."

"Pooh! Impossible! It might be if someone wanted to sell the mine; but it is not for sale, and not likely to be. So you found him measuring— sounding, I suppose you mean?"

"Yes, sir," said Joe. "Here's the line, and it seems to have knots in it to show the depth."

For the boy was busily reeling up the loose cord, and walking back toward where the leaden weight had twined it round the piece of granite.

Joe set this free, and it proved to be a regular fishing sinker.

"But what did the fellow say to give you an excuse for attacking him as you did?"

"Said he was fishing, father," replied Gwyn; "but that was only his insolence."

"Might have been stupid enough to think he could fish there," said the Major.

"No; he meant to find out something about the place. It is being talked about the—"

"Yes, a good deal," said the Major, significantly. "Well, as you have brought me here to see it, you may as well show me the hole."

By this time the line was all wound up, and the Colonel led the way back to the mine, where, just as they reached the rough stone-wall, Gwyn ran forward and picked up a common memorandum book, which had fallen, to lie half-hidden amongst the heath.

A roughly pointed lead pencil was between the leaves, which opened to show that the owner had been making notes; but that he was not accustomed to the work was evident from the spelling, the first entry reading as follows:—

"Dounter warter 30 fathom."

The second,—

"Dounter botm 49 fathom an narf."

The third entry was,—

"Lot warter in thole as mus be pumpt out."

Then came a series of hieroglyphics which puzzled Gwyn; and, after a long trial, he handed the book to his father, who looked at it for some time, and then shook his head, as he passed it to the Major.

"I'm not scholar enough for this, Jollivet," he said. "Will you have a try?"

"No; I haven't brought my glasses. Here, Joe, what does this say?"

Joe, who had been all eagerness to begin, caught at the book, and tried to decipher the roughly-written words, but got on no better than the rest.

"Let me try again," cried Gwyn.

"No, no; I haven't done yet," said Joe; "but it looks all rubbish. No one can make this out."

"Spell it over," said his father, and the boy began.

"H-o-r-s-i-m-s-p-o-o-t-e-t-y-de-b-i-t-h-e-t-o-p-e."

"What does that spell? It's all one word."

"Read it again," said Gwyn, excitedly; and Joe repeated the letters.

"I know. Can't you see?" cried Gwyn, laughing.

Joe shook his head, and the two old officers looked nonplussed.

"What is it, Gwyn?" said his father. "Speak out, if you know."

"Ore seems pretty tidy by the top."

"No; nonsense!" cried the Colonel.

"It is, father," said Gwyn. "You read it over again, Joe."

The letters were once more repeated, and the Major exclaimed,—

"That's it, sure enough."

"Then there must be something in it," cried Colonel Pendarve. "The place is being talked about, and this fellow, who is evidently experienced in such matters, has been sent on to act as a spy. But how does he know about the depth?"

"Line's all knotted in six-feet lengths, sir," said Joe.

"Then I'm much obliged to him for taking the measures; but let's try for ourselves. You would like to see the depth tried, Jollivet."

"I? No, certainly not. Why should I?" cried the Major, testily.

"Because I presume you will take some interest in seeing me succeed if I go on with the venture."

"Oh! Well, yes, of course. Going to try now?"

"I am," replied the Colonel. "Will you boys let down the leaden sinker? Be careful, mind. Will you hold the reel, Joe? and then Gwyn can count the knots as the line runs down."

"All right, sir," cried Joe; and the Major took his place by the wall to look on while, after stationing themselves, Gwyn counted three knots, so as to get a little loose line, then took tight hold and pitched the lead from him, letting the stout cord run between his finger and thumb, and counting aloud as it went down, stopping at thirty by tightening his grasp on the line.

"He's wrong, father; thirty fathoms, and there's no water yet."

"Try a little lower, boy."

The line began to run again, and there was a faint plash before half of another fathom had been reeled off.

"Not so very far out," said the Major, as Gwyn went on counting and the reel turned steadily on, Joe turning one finger into a brake, and checking the spool so that it would not give out the line too fast.

On went the counting, the words coming mechanically from Gwyn's lips as he thought all the while about his terrible fall, and wondered how deep down he had gone beneath the black water.

"Forty-seven—forty-eight—forty-nine—fifty," counted Gwyn.

"Bottom?" cried the Colonel.

"No, father; he must have let it catch on some ledge or piece that stuck out. Look, the lead's going steadily on. He said forty-nine: I've counted fifty, and there it goes—fifty-one—fifty-two," and to the surprise of all, the line ran out till another twenty fathoms had passed off the reel.

"Seventy fathoms, father. That's bottom," said Gwyn, hauling up and letting the line run again with the same result.

"Hah, yes," said the Colonel; "and that means so many thousand gallons more water to be pumped out. But try again. Jerk the lead, and let it shoot down. Perhaps you have not quite sounded the bottom yet."

Gwyn obeyed, and the result was again the same.

"Seventy fathoms. Well, that is not deep compared to some of the mines; but it proves that there must have been profitable work going on for the people, whoever they were, to have gone on cutting through the hard stone. A tremendous task, Jollivet."

"Hang it, yes, I suppose so. Well, there is nothing more to be done or seen, is there?"

"Not at present. Only to reel up the line our visitor has been so obliging as to lend us."

"Wind away, Joe," cried Gwyn; "and I'll let the string pass through my fingers, so as to wring off some of the water."

The boys began to gather in the sounding-cord, and the Major stood peering down over the wall into the black depths and poking at a loose stone on the top of the wall with his cane.

"Seems rather childish," he said suddenly; "but should you mind, Pendarve, if I dislodged this stone and let it fall down the shaft?"

"Mind? Certainly not. Go on. Here, shall I do it?"

"No. I should prefer doing it myself," said the Major; and standing his cane against the wall, he took hold of the stone and stood it upon the edge.

"Stop!" cried the Colonel as he noted that the under part of the stone glistened, as granite will.

"What's the matter?"

"That piece of stone," said the Colonel, excitedly. "Why, man, look; it is rich in tin ore."

"That blackish-purple glittering stuff?"

"Yes; those are tin grains. But there, it does not matter. Throw it in. We can have it sent up again when the mine is pumped out. In with it."

The Major raised the stone with both hands face high and threw it from him, while all watched him, and then stood waiting for the heavy hollow-sounding splash which followed, with the lapping of the water against the sides.

"It is strange," said the Major, "what a peculiar fascination a place like this exercises over me, Pendarve. I feel just as if I could leap down into—"

As he spoke, he leaned over the low wall as if drawn toward the place, and his son turned ghastly white and uttered a faint cry.



CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE COMPACT SEALED.

"No, no, my boy, don't be alarmed," said the Major, turning to smile at his son. "It is only that I am a little nervous and impressionable from my illness. But it is strange how a depth attracts, and how necessary it is for boys to be careful and master themselves when tempted to do things that are risky. Upon my word, I marvel at the daring of you fellows in running such a risk as you did the other day."

"It was not Joe, sir," interposed Gwyn. "I went down."

"But I'll be bound to say my boy was ready to offer."

The pair of actors in the trouble glanced at each other, and Joe's cheeks grew red again.

"Take my advice," said the Major, "as boy or man never do anything risky unless it is for some good reason. One has no right to go into danger unless it is as an act of duty."

"Quite right," said the Colonel; "that's what I tell Gwyn; but boys have such terribly short memories. There, we may as well go back; but you had better wash your face at the first pool, Gwyn. You look horrible. I can't have you go home in that condition."

"No; he would frighten Mrs Pendarve out of her senses," said the Major. "Well, I've seen the wonderful mine, and it looks just like what it is: a big square hole, with plenty of room to throw down money enough to ruin the Queen. But you were right, Pendarve: the fresh air and the exertion have done me good. I must go back, though, now; the fever makes me weak."

That evening the Colonel had a long talk with his son, for he had come to the conclusion that they had not heard the end of the man's visit to the mine.

"It seems to me, Gwyn," he said, "that something must have been known about the place and caused this amateurish kind of inspection."

"I've been thinking so, too, father," said Gwyn. "Sam Hardock must have been talking about it to different people, and praised it so that someone wants to begin mining."

They had come to the right conclusion, for the very next day a dog-cart was driven to the Cove, stopped at the Colonel's gate, and a little fussy-looking gentleman, with sharp eyes, a snub nose, and grey hair, which seemed to have a habit of standing out in pointed tufts, came up to the door, knocked, and sent in his card.

"Mr Lester Dix, solicitor, Plymouth," said the Colonel, reading the card, as he and Gwyn were busy over a work on military manoeuvres. "I don't know any Mr Dix. Show him in."

"Shall I go, father?"

"No, I think not, my boy. I don't suppose it is anything important, unless it is someone come to claim damages for the assault you committed on the man at the mine, and for confiscating the reel and line."

"Oh, it would not be that, would it, father?" cried Gwyn, anxiously. "And besides—"

"He began it, eh? Well, we shall see. You had better stay."

The visitor was shown it, and entered with so smiling a countenance that at first Gwyn felt better; but a suspicion came over him directly after that the smile might mean a masking of the real attack.

For Gwyn's education was growing decidedly military, his father devoting a great deal of time to reading works on fortification and army matters.

But he was soon set at rest, for, after a few preliminary words of apology for the call, with some remarks on the fineness of the morning, and the pleasant drive over from the station, the visitor plunged at once into the object of his visit.

"The fact is, Colonel Pendarve, my professional business lies a great deal with mining companies, and one of those for whom I act have been for some time looking out for a spot here on the west coast, where they could exploit, so to speak, the land, and try with the newer machinery some of the old neglected workings. Now, I am instructed that you have on your estate one of these disused mines, and my company, for whom I act, are willing to run the risk of trying if anything can be made of it with the modern appliances. You see I am quite frank with you, sir. In other words, they are desirous of becoming the purchasers of your little estate here at a good advance upon the sum for which you purchased it."

"Indeed?" said the Colonel, smiling.

"Yes, sir; and I will not conceal from you the fact that they will be quite willing to agree to what would really be a most advantageous thing for you."

"Then the old mine must be very valuable," said Gwyn, excitedly.

"Eh?" ejaculated the visitor, turning his eyes sharply upon the boy. "Oh dear me, no, my dear young friend. That does not follow. It might turn out to be, of course; but mining is a terribly speculative, risky business, and the probabilities are that this mine—let me see, Ydoll, I think, is the old name, and eh, young gentleman, not badly named? Been lying idle for a very long time, I suppose? Eh? You'll excuse the joke. We may lose very heavily in this one, while we gain on others. But, of course, Colonel Pendarve, that is not my affair. My instructions, to be brief, are to ascertain whether you will sell, and, if you will take a reasonable price, to close with you at once."

"I wish father would ask him how he knows about the mine," thought Gwyn.

"May I ask how you became aware of the existence of this place, sir?" asked the Colonel.

"Maps and plans, sir. I have pretty well every property marked out all through the country; picturesque and geological features all set down. Quite a study, young gentleman. You have a nice place here Colonel Pendarve, but you must find it bleak, and I think I may venture to say this is an opportunity for parting with it most profitably."

"I suppose so, sir," said the Colonel, "for your clients would not be, I presume, particular about a few hundreds to obtain possession?"

"Well," replied the lawyer, smiling, "without committing myself, I think I may say that your wishes within reason would be met, sir, upon pecuniary points."

"Well that sounds satisfactory," said the Colonel, "but I have grown attached to the place, and so has my son."

"Oh, yes, father," said Gwyn, eagerly. "I don't want to go."

"Plenty of more beautiful places to be had, my dear sir," said the lawyer, "by the man who has money."

"I have improved the house, too, a great deal lately."

"So I should suppose, sir," said the lawyer; "but we should consider all that in the purchase money."

"And I have made my little garden one of the most productive in the county."

"All of which we will take into consideration, my dear sir. Now, not to take up your time, what do you say? I have a plan in my pocket of the estate, and I am quite prepared to come to terms at once."

"But is not this very sudden?" said the Colonel, smiling.

"Well, perhaps so, my dear sir; but I always advise the companies who intrust me with their affairs to be business-like and prompt. Let us have none of the law's delays, my dear sir, I say. It means waste of time; and as time is money, it is a waste of hard cash. Now, sir, you, as a military man, know the value of decision."

"I hope so," said the Colonel, who looked amused.

"Well, in plain English, sir, will you sell?"

"In plain English, Mr Dix," said the Colonel, promptly, "'No.'"

"Take time, my dear sir, take time," said the lawyer. "Don't, let me implore you, throw away a good chance. Name your terms."

"I have no terms to propose, sir. I like my house here, and I shall not part with it at any price.—Yes, Dolly? What is it?"

For the maid had tapped and entered, looking very round-eyed and surprised.

"Another gentleman to see you, sir."

"Indeed? You will not mind, Mr Dix?"

"Oh, by no means, my dear sir. But one moment, please. Why not close with my proposal? Come, my dear sir, to be plain, I will take the place at your own terms."

"You will not take the place at any terms, sir," said the Colonel, decisively. "Dolly, show the other gentleman in. But did he give you his card?"

"No, sir; said he'd like to speak to you himself."

"Show him in, then."

"Hah!" ejaculated the lawyer; "but you will alter your mind, Colonel Pendarve?"

"I hope not."

"But if you do, you will give me the first offer?"

"I will make no promises, sir," replied the Colonel.

At that moment a reddish-haired, sour-looking man was shown in, and he nodded shortly to the lawyer.

"You here?" he said.

"Yes, my dear Brownson, I am here. Business, my dear sir, business. You really do not mean to say that you have come on the same mission as I."

"I beg pardon, Colonel Pendarve," said the fresh visitor. "I was not aware that Mr Dix here proposed visiting you. Can I have the pleasure of a few words on business of great importance?"

"Certainly," said the Colonel, who now looked very much amused; "but may I ask if it is concerning the purchase of the mine?"

"To be frank, sir, yes, it is. On the behalf of a client, but—but you don't mean that I am too late?"

There was a look of misery in the newcomer's face that was comical, and before the Colonel could speak, he went on:—

"Don't be rash, sir, pray don't be rash. You cannot have closed yet, and I am here prepared, not merely to negotiate, but to come to the most advantageous terms for you."

Mr Dix chuckled, rubbed his hands, and gave the newcomer a look which seemed to sting him to the core.

"I need hardly say, gentlemen," said the Colonel, "that this visit has taken me quite by surprise. I did not expect these sudden offers from what seem to me to be rival companies."

"Hardly rival companies, sir; but I must say that Mr Dix has taken a very unfair advantage of me, after we had agreed to a truce."

"Yes, one which I knew you would break, Brownson," said Dix; "and so I came on first. Now, Colonel Pendarve you will come to terms with me."

"No, sir," said the Colonel, fiercely, "nor with your friend here. My mind is quite made up. I do not know to which party the visit of a spy is due, but you may take these words as final; I shall certainly not sell this little estate to either of you, nor," he added, after a pause, "to anyone else. What, another?" he cried, as Dolly re-appeared at the door.

"No, sir, it's only Major Jollivet, sir. But he says, if you're engaged, he'll call again."

"Show him in," cried the Colonel. "Ah, there he goes. Call him back, Gwyn."

The boy flew to the window, and, in answer to his call, the Major came back, and entered.

"Oh, I didn't wish to interrupt you, Pendarve, but I wanted to have a few words with you on business. Eh? Yes. Very much better. I shall be all right for a few months now."

"Let me introduce you," said the Colonel. "This is Mr Dix, solicitor, of Plymouth, and Mr Brownson, also a solicitor, I presume, of the same town. My old friend and brother officer, Major Jollivet."

Bows were exchanged, and the visitors scowled at each other.

"Jollivet, these two gentlemen, who represent different companies as clients, have come over to make me a very advantageous offer for this little estate."

"Indeed!" said the Major, starting. "What for?"

"They wish to reopen the mine, and are ready to give me my own price."

"Certainly," said Mr Dix.

"Yes, certainly," said Mr Brownson, "with, gentlemen, the addition of a royalty on our part on all the metal smelted. Come, Dix, that's trumps."

"Yes, sir, but this is the ace. Colonel Pendarve, I will guarantee you double the royalty Mr Brownson offers," said Dix.

"Come, that's business, gentlemen," said the Colonel, smiling, while Gwyn's face was scarlet with excitement. "Now, Jollivet, as the man whom I always consult on business matters, and irrespective of anything I may have said to these gentlemen, what would you advise me to do?"

"Ah," exclaimed Mr Dix, rubbing his hands, "what would you advise him to do, General?"

"Major, sir, Major," said the old officer, shortly.

"Yes, Major Jollivet," said Mr Brownson, "what would you advise him to do? Surely to take our fair and liberal offer. We are very old established, and shall carry that old mine to a triumphant success. What would you advise?"

"Oh, Major Jollivet, don't advise him to sell," whispered Gwyn.

"Silence, sir! How dah you interfere!" cried the Major. "Pendarve, if this boy speaks again, send him away."

"Oh, he will not hurt," said the Colonel. "Now, what do you say?"

"Ahem!" coughed the Major, and then he took out an India bandanna silk handkerchief, and blew his nose with a blast like that of a trumpet heralding a charge. "I say, gentlemen, that my old friend, Colonel Pendarve, and I, are very much obliged to you for your offer, which is one that we refuse without the smallest hesitation."

"I will increase my offer, gentlemen; I did not know that Colonel Pendarve had a partner," said Mr Dix.

"I will double mine, gentlemen," cried Brownson.

"Gwyn," said the Colonel. "Never mind the licence; you had better jump on the table and play auctioneer."

"By all means," cried Dix, "and knock it down to the highest bidder."

"No!" roared the Major. "Keep your place, boy. Out of the question. The mine is not for sale. Colonel Pendarve and I are going to carry it on ourselves."

"What!" cried the two lawyers in a breath.

"Jollivet and Pendarve of the Ydoll Mine," cried the Colonel, excitedly.

"That's it, the other way on," said the Major. "Your own proposal; do you hold to it? I came to ask you if you would, before I knew these people were here. Now, then, what do you say?"

"Jollivet and Pendarve."

"Pendarve and Jollivet, or I won't play," cried the Major.

"As you wish," said the Colonel, "There's my hand and seal."

"And mine," cried the Major, seizing the hand extended to him.

"Don't, don't say that, gentlemen," cried Dix, wildly, "It may mean ruin to you both."

"And destruction," cried Brownson.

"Very well," said the Major. "We're old soldiers, we'll face all as we've often faced death. Pen, old man, for the sake of the boys."

"For the sake of the boys," cried the Colonel.

And the next minute the two mining companies' agents were bowed out, while Gwyn leaped on a chair to shout "hurrah!" just as the French window was darkened, and a voice cried,—

"Is father here?"

Joe was not long before he heard the news.



CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

A SUSPICION OF EVIL.

The result of the morning's work was that Sam Hardock received a message from the Colonel, delivered by Gwyn, and the man rubbed his hands gleefully.

"I thought he couldn't refuse such a chance," cried Hardock. "It's a big fortune for him."

"I hope so," said Gwyn. "But how came those people at Plymouth to hear about it?"

"I dunno, sir. But they got hold of the gashly news somehow."

"You did not send them word, of course?"

"Me? Not I, sir."

"But how could that man have heard of it, and come over to sound the mine and examine the place?"

"What man?" cried Hardock, anxiously.

Gwyn explained, and, in answer to questions, the lad gave a pretty good description of his awkward adversary.

Hardock struck his fist upon the table.

"That's the chap! I often wondered who he was. Been hanging about here these two months past."

"Then you did tell him."

"Me, Master Gwyn? Not a bit of it. I'm too close."

"Then you must have talked about it to other people, and he picked up what you said. But there, come along. He will not get it now."

"He must have been sent by someone out Plymouth way, that's for certain, sir. But come along. I want to hear what the Colonel has to say."

"And the Major, too."

"Why, he's not in it, sir, is he?"

"Of course. He will be my father's partner."

Hardock whistled, and was very silent all the way up to the house by Ydoll Cove.

He was talkative enough, though, when he came away, but in a very mysterious fashion.

"It's all right, Mr Gwyn," he whispered. "Going to be a very big thing. I mustn't talk about it; but you're like one of us, and I may tell you. I'm off to Truro this afternoon to talk to an old friend of mine—engineer, and a very big man on working mines. He'll advise on the best kind of pump to have."

The engineer came, examined the shaft, gave his opinions, and in a week's time masons were at work setting up an engine-house, ready for the steam machinery that was to come round by ship from Liverpool; and in a short time the wild slope at the top of the great cliffs was invaded by quite a colony of workmen. The masons' hammers were constantly chipping as they laboriously went on building and raising a platform above the mouth of the shaft, while, whenever a few rich pieces of ore, after possibly lying there many hundred years, were turned up, they were solemnly conveyed to the two old officers for examination.

Here the two boys were soon in their element, and began working away with a great deal of enthusiasm in a small, corrugated iron shed which had been erected in the garden, and dignified by the name of laboratory. For, to the boys' great delight, a model furnace had been made, with bellows, and a supply of charcoal was always ready. There was a great cast-iron mortar fitted on a concrete stand, crucibles of various sizes, and the place looked quite ship-shape.

Both the old officers worked hard at assaying the ore brought from about the mouth of the pit, dug no one knew when, and though they spent a good deal of time, they were very soon superseded by Gwyn and Joe. Hardock gave them a little instruction; everything about the work was interesting and fresh; and in a few weeks they were able to roughly declare how much pure metal could be obtained from a ton of the quartz which they broke up in the great mortar, powdering, and washing and drying, and then smelting in one of the plumbago crucibles of the laboratory.

"There's no telling yet what we may find in that mine, Joe," said Gwyn; "only we don't know enough chemistry to find out."

"It's metallurgy, father says," said Joe, correcting him.

"Never mind; it's chemistry all the same; and we must read more about it, and try experiments. Why, we might get gold and silver."

"What, out of a tin mine?" said Joe, derisively.

"Well, why not? I don't know about the gold, but we may, perhaps. Sam Hardock said there were some specks in one bit of quartz he brought up."

"But we shouldn't want specks; we should want lumps."

"There's sure to be silver."

"Why?" said Joe.

"Because there's lead, and I was reading with father about how much silver you can get by purifying the lead. It's going to be a wonderful business."

"Hope so," said Joe; "but they're a precious long while getting the machinery together, and my father says the cost is awful."

"Can't get a great pump in a mine ready to work like you can one in a back kitchen," said Gwyn. "See what an awkward job it is fitting the platforms for the tubing. I think they're doing wonders, seeing what a lot there is to get ready. Sam says, though, that he believes they'll begin pumping next month."

But next month came round, and they did not begin pumping, for the simple reason that the machinery was not ready. Still it was in fair progress, and an arrangement was fixed so that, when the beam began to rise and fall, the water would be sent gushing into the adit by which Gwyn had made his escape on that adventurous day; and as this little gully had a gentle slope towards the sea, the water would be easily got rid of by its own natural flow.

The boys were at the mouth of the shaft on one particular day, and as the news had been spread that the first steps for drying the mine were to be taken, half the people from the little village had sauntered up, many of them being fisherfolk, and plenty of solemn conversation went on, more than one weather-beaten old sage giving it as his opinion that no good would come of it, for there was something wicked and queer about this old mine, and they all opined that it ought not to have been touched.

Gwyn noticed the head-shakings, and nudged Joe.

"Talking about the goblins in the mine," he answered. "I say, if there are any, they'll come rushing up the big tube like the tadpoles did in the garden pump when it was first made."

Just then Joe caught hold of his companion's arm, and pinched it.

"Hullo!" cried Gwyn.

"Hush! don't talk—don't look till I tell you which way. I've just seen him."

"Seen whom?" said Gwyn, wonderingly.

"That big chap who was measuring the pit. He's over yonder with about a dozen more men. What does it mean?"

"Mischief," said Gwyn, huskily. "Quick! Let's go and warn my father."

"What about? He may only have come up to see."

"I don't know," said Gwyn, excitedly. "Someone who wanted to get the mine must have sent them up first of all, and, as they couldn't get it, I'm afraid they've turned spiteful, and may try to do us harm. What would they do, do you think?"

"Try and damage the machinery, perhaps," said Joe.

"Yes, that's it. We must warn father, and keep an eye on those fellows, or there's no knowing what they may do. Where are they now?"

"Can't see them," said Joe, after a glance round. "They must have gone."

"Yes, but where? Not to the engine-house, surely. Why, they might upset the whole thing, and do no end of mischief if they liked. Come on, and let's make sure that they are not there, and then tell Sam Hardock to keep watch."

Joe had another look round the now thoroughly transformed place, with its engine-house, sheds, and scaffold and wheel over the built-up shaft, but he saw nothing, and said so. Still Gwyn was not satisfied, for a peculiar feeling of dread oppressed him.

"It isn't easy to see for the people and the buildings—Ah, there's father; let's go and tell him what we think."

It was quite time: for the hero of the measuring and another sour-looking fellow were making their way round to where the two boilers were beginning to be charged with steam, and what was worse for all concerned, no one paid any heed to their movements, which were furtive and strange, suggesting that they had not come for the purpose of doing good, while their opportunities for doing a serious ill were ample; but Gwyn had just grasped that fact.



CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

IN THE ENGINE-HOUSE.

The boys hardly spoke as they made their way towards the engine-house, from whence came a loud hissing noise, and on hearing this, Joe exclaimed excitedly,—

"He's there."

For answer Gwyn ran to the door, and entered, hardly knowing what he was about to do, but with the feeling that this man was a natural enemy, whom it was his duty to attack; and, like a true comrade, Joe followed closely at his heels.

The hissing noise increased as they approached the door; and, fully alive as he was to the danger of meddling with steam, Gwyn's heart began to beat a little faster, for he felt that they were too late; that the mischief had been done, the steam was escaping, and that if they entered the house, it might be at the expense of a terrible scalding.

All else was silent, and as they reached the doorway of the place, the shrill, shrieking noise was piercing, and made their words difficult to hear.

"He has broken something, or turned on the steam, so that it may escape, Joe," said Gwyn. "Shall we go in and try to put it right?"

"If we must. But where's the engine-driver?—where's the stoker?"

Gwyn looked round, to see that the people were crowding about the shaft where the great pump was to be set in motion and where work-people were busy still trying to get it ready. Hammers were clinking, spanners and screw wrenches rattling on nuts, and the work in progress was being patiently watched, the engine-house and boilers being for the time unnoticed.

"Perhaps he's here, after all," said Gwyn at last, with a gasp. "Shall we go in?"

Joe hesitated while you might have counted ten, and he looked despairingly round, as if in the hope of seeing something that would check him and render the venture unnecessary, for there was the sound as of a thousand snakes hissing wildly, and to one unused to the behaviour of engine boilers all this seemed preliminary to a terrible explosion, with possible death for those who went inside.

"Yes, we must go in," said the boy at last; and as Gwyn made one effort to summon his courage, and dashed through the door, he followed.

The noise was now almost deafening, and at a glance they saw that the steam was escaping furiously from the two long boilers at the end farthest from where they stood, but the new bright engine, with its cylinders, pistons, rods, cranks, driving-wheel, governor, and eccentric, seemed to be perfectly safe.

"He has been in and driven a pickaxe into each of the boilers," cried Joe. "They'll blow up together. Shall we run?"

The boy's words were almost drowned by the fierce hissing, which was now mingled with a deep bass formed by a loud humming, throbbing sound such as might be made by a Brobdingnagian tea-kettle, just upon ready for use. Then came loud cracking and spitting sounds, and the dull roar of big fires.

But the man of whom they were in search was invisible, and Gwyn walked quickly round to the other side of the engine and looked sharply down that side of the long building.

Joe followed.

It was darker here, and the steam which filled the open roof, and was passing out of a louvre, hung lower, so that the far end was seen through a mist. "Not here," said Gwyn. "Think we could stop the steam escaping?"

"Don't know," shouted back Joe. "Sha'n't we be scalded to death?"

"Let's go and try."

That was enough for Joe, who felt as if he would have given anything for the power to rush out, but seemed held there by his companion's example.

"Go on, then," he panted out; and Gwyn had taken a couple of steps into the hot vapour, his heart throbbing violently with the great dread of ignorance, when, beyond the mist which was looking light in front of the door at the far end, there was a heavy, quick step. They could see a dark, shadowy figure, which looked of gigantic proportions through the hanging steam, and heard the crackling and crushing of coal under its feet, as it descended the stone steps into the stoke hole. This was followed by the rattling of an iron bar, quickly used, the rattle and clang of an iron door being thrown open, when a sudden glare of brilliant light turned the cloud of steam from grey to ruddy gold.

"Hullo! there," shouted a voice, evidently from the door by which the boys had entered; and in an instant there was a rush of feet, the crackling of the coal on the granite steps, and they saw the dark shadow once more, as it darted out through the far door.

At the same instant there were heavy steps going along on the other side of the boilers to the stoke hole, a loud exclamation heard above the hissing and shrieking of the steam. Then came the crackling of the coal dust, the rattle of an iron implement, the furnace was closed with a clang, and the steam between the boys and the far door changed back to grey once more.

The next instant, as they went on, they were face to face with the big bluff engine-driver, who shouted at them.

"Oh! it's you two young gents is it? Well, all I've got to say is that if you're to come here meddling and playing your larks, someone else may tend the bylers, for I won't."

"We haven't done anything," cried Gwyn, hotly.

"What!" roared the man, "when I come and ketched you fooling about with that furnace door! Do you know that you might have made the fire rage away if you got stoking hard, and perhaps blow up the whole place. There's too much pressure on now."

"Will you let me speak!" cried Gwyn angrily. "We came in because something was wrong, and no one near to see to the steam."

"Yes, there now; I only just went to that clumsy lot at the pump, to see if they meant to start it to-day, because, if they didn't soon, I should have to damp down. Twelve o'clock, they said, and as I told Sam Hardock, there was I ready for them, but I s'pose he means twelve o'clock to-morrow. And when I comes back, I find you young gents playing the fool. D'yer want a big burst?"

"No," cried Gwyn, who had striven twice to stop the indignant flow of words. "I tell you we came in because something was wrong—to try and stop—"

"Wrong? Yes, you meddling with the furnace."

"We did not, I tell you."

"What? Well, if you young gents can't tell a good slumper, I'm a Dutchman. Why, I heard you at the furnace door, and as soon as I shouted, I hears you both roosh up the steps. Then I came round, and here you are. Better say you didn't leave the door open."

"I do say so," shouted Gwyn, who had hard work to make himself heard above the steam.

"Oh, all right, then. You're the governors' sons. Burst the bylers if you like; they aren't mine."

"Will you listen?" cried Gwyn.

"Why, I am a-listening, aren't I?" cried the man. "All right, it warn't you, then, and it must ha' been one o' they big Cornish tom-cats."

"Don't talk like a donkey," cried Gwyn, who had lost his temper now. "I tell you we came in because something was wrong."

"Very," said the man.

"The steam was hissing horribly, as you hear it now. Aren't you going to try and stop it?"

"Stop it?" said the man. "What for? Want me to blow the place up?"

"Of course not; but I want you to stop up those holes."

"You don't know what you're talking about, squire, or else it's to throw me off the scent."

"I know the steam's escaping horribly."

"Yes; all waste, through them not finishing that pump."

"Then try and stop it."

"Stop it? Don't I tell you there's too much pressure on as it is?"

"It's the safety valves open, Ydoll," said Joe, with his lips to his companion's ear.

"Oh!" ejaculated Gwyn, as he grasped the truth. "I thought something was wrong."

"I know something was wrong, and without thinking, young squire," said the man. "But you take my advice, and don't you meddle with anything here again."

"I have told you we did not touch anything; but I suppose it's no use to talk to you," said Gwyn, warmly.

"No, sir, not a bit," replied the man, gruffly; "and I shall speak to the governors about you two coming meddling."

"And I shall speak to my father about your not being here taking care of the engines," said Gwyn, as a parting shot. "If you had been at your duty, no one would have had a chance to meddle. So we will see what he says."



CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

AN ATTACK OF HEROES.

"That was a topper for him, Ydoll," said Joe, as they stood outside. "Phew! what a hot, stuffy place it is!"

"We were the first there, Joe," said Gwyn, who had not heard his companion's words. "But what was he going to do?"

"Who going to do—that chap?"

"Yes. I'm sure he meant mischief of some kind. I'll speak to father. He won't interfere with the people coming to-day, because it's like a sight, this beginning: but afterwards he'll have to give orders for no one but the work-people to be about."

"Hullo, what's this?" cried Joe.

For a shout arose, and a man stood forward from the crowd, making signals.

"I know: they want the steam turned on."

Gwyn stepped back to the mouth of the temporary engine-house, told the driver, and he connected a band with the shaft; this started another long band, and the power was communicated to the pump, with the result that a huge wheel began to turn, a massive rod was set in motion, and a burst of cheers arose; for, with a steady, heavy, clanking sound, the first gallons of water were raised, to fall gushing into the cistern-like box, and then begin to flow steadily along the adit; the boys, after a glance or two down the deep shaft, now one intricacy of upright ladder and platform, hurrying off to where a series of ladders had been affixed to the face of the cliff, down which they went, to reach a strongly-built platform at the mouth of the adit.

It was rather different from the spot on which Gwyn had knelt a few months before, waiting for help to come and rescue him from his perilous position, and he thought of it, as he descended the carefully-secured ladders, connected with the rock face by means of strong iron stanchions.

"I say, Joe," he cried, as they descended, "better than hanging at the end of a rope. Why, it's safe as safe."

"So long as you don't let go," was the reply from above him.

"Well, don't you let go, or you'll be knocking me off. I say, I wonder what the birds think of it all."

"Don't seem to mind it much," replied Joe. "But I suppose we sha'n't leave these ladders here when the mine-shaft is all right."

"No, because we shall go along the adit, that way. Father says Sam Hardock wants the gallery widened a little, so that a tramway can be laid down, and then he'll run trucks along it, and tilt all the rubbish into the sea."

"Yes, young gentlemen, that's the way," said a voice below them. "So you're coming down to have a look?"

"I say, Sam, you startled me," cried Gwyn. "Well, how does the pump work?"

"Splendidly, sir; here's a regular stream of water coming along, and running into the sea like a cascade, as they call it. Only ten more steps, sir. That's it! Mind how you come there. None too much room. We must have a strong rail all round here, or there'll be some accident. Two more steps, Mr Joe. That's the way! Now then, sir, don't this look business-like?"

The boys were standing now on the platform, whose struts were sloping to the rock below, and through an opening between them and the mouth of the adit the water came running out, bright and clear, to plunge down the face of the cliff in a volume, which promised well for draining the mine.

"Why, it won't take long to empty the place at this rate," cried Joe, as he knelt upon the platform and gazed down at the falling water, which dropped sheer for about twenty feet, then struck the rock, glanced off, and fell the rest of the way in a broken sheet of foam, which rapidly changed into a heavy rain.

"No, sir, it won't take very long," said Hardock. "A few weeks, I suppose; because, as it lowers, we shall have to put down fresh machinery to reach it, and so on, right to the sumph at the bottom."

"Oh, not a few weeks," said Gwyn, in a tone of doubt. "Well, say months, then, sir. Nobody can tell. If you gave me a plan of the mine on paper, with the number and size of the galleries, I could tell you pretty exactly; but, of course, we don't know. There may be miles of workings at different levels; and, on the other hand, there may be not— only the shaft, and that we can soon master."

"But suppose that there's a hole into it from the sea," said Joe, looking up from where he knelt, with a droll look of inquiry in his eyes.

"Why, then we shall want more pumps, and a fresh place to put the water in," cried Gwyn, laughing. "Rather too big a job for you, that, Sam Hardock."

"Oh, I don't know, sir. We might p'r'aps find out where the gashly hole was, and put a big cork in it. But let's try first and see. What do you say to coming through to the shaft, and having a look whether the water's beginning to lower?"

"But we shall get out feet so wet."

"Bah! what's a drop o' water, my lad, when there's a big bit o' business on? Have off your shoes and stockings, then. I've got a light."

"Will you come, Joe?"

"Of course, if you're going," said the boy, sturdily, as if it were a matter beyond question. "But you haven't told Sam about the engine-house."

"What about it?" said the man, anxiously. "What!" he continued, on hearing what they had noticed. "That's bad, my lads, that's bad, and they mean mischief. But I don't see what harm he could have done to the fire, only burnt himself—and sarve him right. Wanted to see, perhaps, how our bylers was set. I know that chap, though—met him more than once, when I've been here and there in different towns, talking to folk of a night over a pipe—when I was looking for work, you know. One of those chaps, he seemed to be, as is always hanging about with both ears wide open to see what they can ketch. I fancy he had something to do with the two gents as came over to buy the mine. I aren't sure, but I think that's it."

"I feel quite sure," said Gwyn, emphatically. "Very well, then, sir; what we've got to do is to keep him off our premises, so that he don't get picking up our notions of working the old mine. He's after something, or he wouldn't be here to-day. Regular old mining hand, he is; and I daresay he was squinting over our machinery, and he wants to see the pumping come to naught. Just please him. But look at this; isn't it fine?"

He pointed to the steady stream of clear water rushing toward them, and falling downward, glittering in the sunshine. "Ready to go in with me?"

For answer the two boys took off their boots and socks, and stood them in a niche in the rock, while Hardock passed in through the mouth of the adit; and directly after he had disappeared in the darkness, he re-appeared in the midst of a glow of light produced by a lanthorn he had placed behind a piece of rock.

"Come on, my lads," he cried, and the two boys stepped in, with the cold water gurgling about their feet, and stooping to avoid striking their heads against the roof of the low gallery.

"One o' the first things I mean to have done is to set the men to cut a gully along here for the water to run in, for I daresay we shall always have to keep the pump going. Then the water can keep to itself, and we shall have a dry place for the trucks to run along."

"But this place won't be used much," said Gwyn, as he followed the man, and kept on thinking about his strange feelings, as he crept along there in the darkness toward the light, after his terrible fall.

"I don't know so much about that, my lad. Don't you see, it will be splendid for getting rid of our rubbish? The trucks can be tilted, and away it will go; but what's to prevent us from loading ships with ore out below there in fine weather? But we shall see."

It was a strange experience to pass out of the brilliant sunshine into the black, cold tunnel through the rock, with the water bubbling about their feet, and a creepy, gurgling whispering sound coming toward them in company with a heavy dull clanking, as the huge pump worked steadily on. Try how they would to be firm, and forcing themselves to fall back upon the knowledge of what was taking place, there was still the feeling that this little stream of water was only the advance guard of a deluge, and that at any moment it might increase to a rushing flood, which would sweep them away, dashing them out headlong from the mouth of the gallery to fall into the sea.

But there in front was the black outline of Hardock's stooping figure, with the lanthorn held before him, and making the water flash and sparkle, while from time to time the man held up the lanthorn, and pointed to a glittering appearance in the roof, or on the walls.

"Ore," he said, with a chuckle. "I didn't come to your father, Master Gwyn, with empty hands, did I? Well, I'm glad he woke up to what it's all worth. Here we are."

He stopped short, for they had come to the shaft, and his light showed up the strong beams and wet iron ties which held the machinery in place. There were a couple of men here, too, with lanthorns hanging from what seemed to be a cross-beam. On their right, was a wet-looking ladder, whose rounds glistened, and this ran up into darkness, where a great beam had been fixed, with a square hole where the top of the ladder rested, the light from above being almost entirely cut off.

The men said something to Hardock, but their words were almost inaudible in the rattle and clank of the great pump, and the wash and rush of the water as it was drawn into a huge trough, and rushed from it into the adit.

Hardock gave them a nod in reply, and then signed to the boys as he swung his lanthorn.

"Come and look here," he shouted; and, with their bare feet slipping on the wet planks that were just loosely laid across the beams fitted into the old holes, cut no one knew when, in the sides of the shaft, they went down to where Hardock dropped on his knees and held the lanthorn through an opening, so that the light was reflected from the water, whose level was about a foot below where they now stood.

"See that?" he shouted, so as to make his voice heard.

"What, the water?" cried Gwyn. "Yes."

"No, no; my mark that I made in the wall with a pick?"

"Oh, yes; the granite looks quite white," said Gwyn, as he looked at the roughly-cut notch some six inches long.

"How far is the water below it?" cried Hardock.

"About seven inches, eh, Joe?"

"Nearly eight."

"Then you may go up and tell your father the good news. He'll like to hear it from you. Tell him that we've lowered the water seven inches since the pump started, and if nothing goes wrong, we shall soon be making a stage lower down."

"But what should go wrong?" cried Joe, who looked full of excitement.

"A hundred things, my lad. Machinery's a ticklish thing, and as for a mine, you never know what's going to happen from one hour to another. Go on, up with you both, my lads; it's news they'll be glad to hear, and you ought to be proud to take it."

"We are," cried Gwyn, heartily. "It's splendid, Sam. You have done well."

"Tidy, my lad, tidy. Will you go up the ladder here?"

"No," said Gwyn, "we've left our shoes and stockings outside."

"Very well; go that way, then."

"Yes," said Joe, "it's better than going up the shaft; the ladders look so wet, and the water drops upon you. I saw it dripping yesterday. Come on."

He stepped into the adit, and Gwyn followed.

"Don't want a light, I s'pose?" said Hardock.

"Oh, no; we shall see the sunshine directly," said Gwyn; and the two boys retraced their wet steps, soon caught sight of the light shining in, and made their way out to the platform, where they sat down in the sunshine to wipe their feet with their handkerchiefs, and then put on socks and boots, each giving his feet a stamp as he rose erect.

"Isn't the water cold! My feet are like ice," said Joe.

"They'll soon get warm climbing up these ladders," said Gwyn. "But steady! Don't jump about; this platform doesn't seem any too safe. I'll ask father to have the stout rail put round. Shall I go first?"

"No; you came down first," said Joe. "My turn now. But I say, I'd a deal rather go up and down in a bucket. What a height it seems."

"Well, make it less," said Gwyn. "Up with you! don't stand looking at it. I want to be at the top."

"So do I," said Joe, as he stood holding on by one of the rounds of the ladder, they two and the platform looking wonderfully small on the face of that immense cliff; the platform bearing a striking resemblance to some little bracket nailed against a wall, and occupied by two sparrows.

Then, uttering a low sigh, Joe began to mount steadily, and as soon as he was a dozen feet up, Gwyn followed him.

"It doesn't do to look upwards, does it?" said Joe, suddenly, when they had been climbing for about half-a-minute.

"Well, don't think about it, then. And don't talk. You want all your breath for a job like this."

Joe was silent, and the only sounds heard were the scraping of their boots on the wooden spells, and the crying of the gulls squabbling over some wave-tossed weed far below.

Then, all at once, when he was about half-way up, Joe suddenly stopped short, but Gwyn did not notice it till his cap was within a few inches of the other's boots.

"Well, go on," he cried cheerily. "What's the matter—out of breath?"

"No."

"Eh? What is it—what's the matter?" said Gwyn, for he was startled by the tone in which the word was uttered.

"I—I don't know," came back in a hoarse whisper, which sent a shudder through Gwyn, as he involuntarily glanced down at the awful depth beneath him. "It's the cold water, I think. One of my feet has gone dead, and the other's getting numb. Gwyn! Gwyn! Here, quick! I don't know what I'm—Quick!—help! I'm going to fall!"