Part 20 (2/2)

”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.”

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